The landmarked 4-star art nouveau Hotel Vitznauerhof is situated in the heart of central Switzerland, directly on Lake Lucerne and at the foot of Mount Rigi. In 1901, as the lakefront hotel was built, if provided many famous personalities from that era a top-class accommodation. Exactly one hundred years after the opening the grand hotel was restored.
Since summer of 2018, Hotel Vitznauerhof is ready to impress under the new management of host Raphael Herzog.
Life is better at the lake
The Vitznauerhof
1896 The hotelier family Franz Michel buys the land in front of and behind the stream in 1896 and begins planning and building the hotel.
1901 In May, the Seehotel Vitznauerhof opens as a first-class hotel. It is built in Art Nouveau style according to the plans of the Mannheim architect Kühn. The hotel offers all the luxury that was expected of a first-class hotel at the time: Connection to the Swiss telephone network, electric light, low-pressure steam heating and a beautiful park and gardens.
1911 The hotelier family Bon takes over the hotel. The rotten roof tower has to be removed during renovation work. This marks the beginning of the era in which international guests of distinction come to Vitznau. The Seehotel Vitznauer-hof hosted many famous guests such as Hermann Hesse, Richard Strauss, General Henri Guisan and Paul Klee or Princess Gina von Liechteinstein, who at times claimed an entire floor for herself.
1924 Robert Keller, who had spent most of his professional career in the Bon family’s hotels, buys the Vitznauerhof, where he has been director since 1919. The hotel passes through three generations of the Keller family. The zeitgeist of the 1950s, the discovery of new materials such as linoleum and Pavatex as well as economic fluctuations lead to the loss of many of the beautiful signs of Art Nouveau.
1996 In November, Refugium Vitznauerhof AG takes over the Seehotel. It wants to revitalise what has been lost. Reconstruction work begins and the tower is rebuilt.
1997 The hotel celebrates his reopening.
2002 The Arabella Sheraton Group takes over the hotel.
2005 In August, the region experiences a flood disaster that largely destroys the hotel and the park. The hotel is closed.
2006/07 In December, the hotel goes to the Pension Fund Pro in Schwyz and is converted into a vitality resort.
2009 During the renovation and extension, great importance is attached to preserving the historic building fabric.
2010 In May, the Hotel Vitznauerhof Vitalresort opens with a medical department.
2011 In August, the hotel goes bankrupt and the director leaves the hotel immediately. He is replaced by a delegate of the owners and the Vitalresort project is cancelled.
2015 The Vitznauerhof continues as a 4-star superior hotel with summer operations.
2018 Raphael Herzog takes over the hotel and successfully implements his hotel concept at the Vitznauerhof.