On the waterfront of Lake Leman, overlooking the picturesque city of Geneva, sits an unmissable neoclassical landmark: Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. This beautiful edifice is chic in its simplicity and, since its construction in 1834, has been as much a center of cultural significance as a luxury hotel.
Framed by mountains, the lake, the Rhône River and the city, Four Seasons Geneva is encircled by sensational views. This property also resides in the heart of the city’s downtown, on Rue du Rhône, Geneva’s most exclusive shopping street. It is easy to see why this beautiful site is such a precious jewel in Geneva’s crown, but if you need more reasons as to why the property is such an iconic cultural asset, keep reading.
The Design
Directions to build a hotel that area businessmen reportedly wanted to be “simple, of pure style and free of superfluous ornamentation” were executed to perfection. The result was a symmetrical neoclassical structure influenced by French and Italian architectural trends of the 1830s.
During the hotel’s significant 2005 restorations under the direction of France’s celebrated interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, the building was painstakingly renovated. All 115 guest rooms are furnished in the Louis-Philippe style (as was the original hotel), with a timeless elegance in shades of blue, dove gray and crisp white. The blues complement the hotel’s lakefront position beautifully, with many rooms offering water views.
In the public areas, you can see relics of Hotel des Bergues’ past elegance: the Murano glass chandeliers, the imposing oval staircase, the pillars and the crown molding on the walls.
The History
Long before it was a Four Seasons, Hotel des Bergues was the first grand hotel in Switzerland and the largest of its day. The new and novel Hotel des Bergues drew the rich and famous to Geneva to enjoy a luxurious vacation by the lake and in proximity to some of Europe’s finest ski slopes.
In the early 20th century, the hotel became an important hub for diplomats and statesmen coming to Geneva after World War II. The first meeting of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations, was held in the Salle des Nations, a magnificent hall built for the occasion. Today, the historic Salle des Nations is one of the world’s most historic meeting and event spaces and one of its most beautiful, thanks to the gilt mirrors and exquisite chandeliers.
The Amenities
The luxury hotel provides guests all the facilities you’d expect from a high-end property but with the charm of a historic icon. As you step into the lobby, with its opulent arrangements of fresh flowers, you can choose between having a traditional Italian fine-dining experience at Il Lago or heading upstairs to the trendy rooftop bar and Japanese restaurant, Izumi.
The Geneva gem also focuses on sustainable luxury. To maximize comfort in an eco-friendly fashion, the hotel is cooled by the waters of Lake Geneva instead of air conditioning, meaning those hot Switzerland summer days, where temperatures reach over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, still feel just right. Additionally, the hotel is free of single-use plastic while its restaurants strive to serve the best of sustainable, antibiotic-free meat and fish.
Swiss spas are among the best in the world, but the Four-Star Spa Mont Blanc still manages to exceed expectations. The rooftop spa curates an extensive range of wellness and aesthetic treatments, from a Hydrating Rejuvenation Ritual that zeroes in on wrinkles to cupping therapy to boost circulation. Facials are a specialty, with dermatologists and other experts analyzing guests’ skin to provide tailor-made solutions, often incorporating Swiss products. You will want to linger after your service: the immense sanctuary includes a mosaic- and marble-covered hammam, ice baths, a gym and a pool.
Exclusive experiences away from the spa are also available to hotel guests all year round, from hot air ballooning and skiing to partaking in a guided tour of Geneva’s old city or the uniquely Swiss experience of taking a master watchmaking class with one of the country’s finest artisans.
