SWISSBLISS
SWISS LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
Les Armures, Geneva
A unique boutique hotel in the heart of the Old Town
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, come to Les Armures. The only five-star hotel in the heart of Geneva's beautiful historical old-town, it is just a stone's throw away from the monumental Saint-Pierre cathedral. This is a refined part of town with its cobble-stoned pedestrian streets, antique stores, galleries, cafés and restaurants. Les Armures is also famous for having welcomed a number of very famous guests over the years, including Sofia Loren, George Clooney, the Clintons and Paul McCartney.
Unlike any other five-star hotel in Geneva, Les Armures has been family-owned for more than 50 years. Guests are welcome between century-old walls. Some of the features of the original building date back to the 17th Century, although the current building was only turned into a hotel in the late 1970’s. It currently offers 32 rooms and suites, giving it a very intimate and cosy feel.
This boutique hotel has succeeded in keeping many of the original features of this 17th century building, whilst bringing it into the 21st century with contemporary flair. All the original stonewalls have been kept and cleverly integrated into the stylish decor. The cosy lounge off the reception area even features the original painted ceiling and a beautifully restored 17th century tapestry. I was told that this room was a bakery in the 1600’s.
The level of attention to detail really stands out in the rooms. The newly-renovated junior suite and rooms on the fourth floor feature weathered wood-paneling imported from the Canadian prairies, giving the rooms a contemporary chalet-like style. The rooms have small windows under the eaves, giving guests a privileged view on the frescoes that still appear on the buildings opposite, and in one room, you even have a restricted view on the lake. Every hour, on the hour, you can hear the Cathedral bells strike the time in the distance.
The furnishings are all modern, combining faux-furs, pure white linens, oak floors and leather trimmings. The newest rooms look particularly stunning with their white-leather furniture. The King-size beds are like a fluffy, white cloud… I slept like a baby, probably partly too because the hotel was very quiet. All the bathrooms are finished with stunning Italian marble. Again the attention to detail is really noticeable in the bathrooms.
On the downside, the hotel does not offer any of the facilities you may expect from a five-star hotel: there is no gym, although guests do have access to the Holmes Place gym down the hill in the town centre, and there is no spa.
This hotel is all about understated elegance. It is a haven of peace and tranquility, in a beautiful historical setting. The Restaurant Les Armures is next door and is famous for its gourmet Swiss dishes; it serves traditional Swiss fondue and raclette in its Carnotzet, in the basement.
27th January 2017
For more information check out the hotel's website here.