A hotel room literally on the lake in an individual bungalow with seagulls floating over your private terrace? This is possible not only in Malibu, but also in Neuchatel, a city in the French part of Switzerland, which happens to also be home to the largest lake in the country. And this is Hotel Palafitte!
Designed as independent units, the 24 lake pavilions are the only 5-star rooms on stilts in Europe. The hotel was built in 2002 as part of the Swiss national exhibition Expo.02. It is a great result of a collaboration between architect Kurt Hofmann and students from the Hotel Management School École hôtelière de Lausanne. The designers created a fascinating link with the site’s ancient history: archaeologists discovered in this area the oldest remains of houses in Switzerland, which were also built on stilts.
In the Lake Pavilion room you can enjoy the proximity of the lake, a large terrace, lots of daylight and space, a lovely office corner and a whirlpool bath. It was a relaxing fall stay at the hotel, complete with the package “Coziness by the lake” (bookable from 1.10.-30.04.). The package includes candlelight, bubble bath, a tasty welcome snack in the room, warm socks waiting on the bed, health and wellness time at Villa Florius in Fleurier. Villa Florius combines the ancient tradition of the baths with modern treatment facilities. Last but not least the package includes a tasty dinner in the room or at the restaurant “La Table de Palafitte ”. Be sure to try the fish, a truly local cheese plate and delicious wine from the region of Neuchatel!
It was a great feeling to wake up in a luxurious house on water, go to the balcony to have a cup of coffee and admire the crystal clear lake, breath the fresh air and gaze upon the mountains on the horizon.
Photos by Hotel Palafitte and Swissglam
