The luxury Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues lies in the heart of Geneva, and was the first hotel in the city, it is also the oldest in Switzerland and in 2009 celebrated its 175th anniversary. Today it remains one of the very best and finest choices hotel of world diplomats and sophisticated travellers and has been one of Lake Geneva's landmarks since 1834 and it has blended history, the essentials of today, combined with personal service and warmth.

During the 1800's Guillaume-Henri Dufour was horrified to see that travellers to the city of Geneva were greeted with sights such as slums and filthy industry, so over the next 10 years he spent his time designing a new luxury waterfront of the very best. The "Société des Bergues" asked for a simple, yet pure in style luxury hotel to be built, with no superfluous ornamentation, which was unheard of, as at that time Greek pediments and colonnades were in high fashion.

Remodelling transforms the Hotel

The Hotel des Bergues went through renovations in 1917 and a new superb wing was added in 1967. The luxury hotel was fully remodelled in 2005 when it reopened as the "Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues". The 103 guest rooms of the hotel were designed by renowned interior decorator "Pierre-Yves Rochon", while the design aesthetics remained true to the original neo-classical architecture, the interior captured the spirit of the French furnishings of 1834. The colour palettes used were based on greens and blues with Lake Geneva as the inspiration, with fresh floral arrangements of the very best playing a large part in enhancing the aesthetics and design of the hotel.

Floral creations provide inspiration

The floral creations from "Serge Marzetta" play an important role in the luxury hotel, as does the signature service provided. Serge took his inspiration from Lake Geneva, his travel experiences and architecture; blooms fill the hotel with fragrances invoking strong memories, coming from Holland, France and Hawaii.

Enjoy a luxury vacation at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, it deserves all of its 5-stars, one of the best in Europe. The location of the hotel within Geneva is great. The rooms large with a balcony and overlooks the fabulous lake.

Dine at "Il Lago", dominated by a wall of windows, overlooking the "Place des Bergues", the restaurant offers fine menus from Northern Italy and an impressive wine list of Swiss and French wines, including selections of exclusive wines from several boutique vineyards.

At dinner, you could choose the sea scallops with Jerusalem artichokesand chestnut sauce for starters, followed by braised veal cheek with mushroom puff pastry, simply delicious, for desert, a selection of chocolates with hazelnut ice cream. Before the end of your stay you might want to take a spa treatment of the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, the ultimate in luxury relaxation and one highly recommended.

Editorial | Image Courtesy Four Seasons Des Bergues