Les-Trois-Rois Basel Swiss Bliss Travel

Les Trois Rois Basel

A truly historical hotel

This super elegant and luxurious hotel sits in a prime position on the river Rhine in the heart of Basel. It is a truly historical hotel being one of the oldest city hotels in Europe. From the moment you enter, you are transported into a world of pure elegance and refinement. The opulent lobby sets the tone for things to come: a giant, gleaming chandelier hangs down from the ceiling overlooked by a series of beautiful landings.

Remarkably, the first official record of Les Trois Rois can be dated to 1681 when it operated as a gentlemen’s inn. Basel at that time had become an international centre for the silk ribbon industry with French and Italian immigrants first bringing this trade to the city in the mid-16th century. Later on, Basel also became a hub for the cloth, cotton, iron and colonial trade. The hotel, located right on the shores of the river was ideally located to welcome all these wealthy tradesmen.

Over the years Les Trois Rois has welcomed many illustrious guests from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797 - a beautiful suite bears his name - to Queen Elisabeth the Second, passing through Voltaire, Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso and more.

Between 1842 and 1844, the hotel was rebuilt; the current façade and footprint of the hotel date back to this period. It then changed hands a number of times before being purchased by the current owner, Dr Thomas Straumann, in 2004. He chose to close it down and spent two years renovating it to its original 19th century glory. It was entirely remodelled according to national heritage guidelines and fully modernized. The adjacent building was also integrated into the hotel; this new addition’s art deco style stands out from the original building that remains beautifully old-fashioned and traditional in style.

Today the hotel offers 101 rooms and suites. In the original building, two suites in particular stand out. The Napoleon Suite with its duck-shell silk wallpaper and beautiful fresco on the ceiling offers a very classic living space with beautiful river views. The Herzl Room, (named after Thomas Herzl, one of the father’s of the modern State of Israel) is decorated in soft colours and has the most beautiful gold, silk curtains, a stunning claw-foot tub, and an ornate chandelier. In the new wing, the 250 m2 Art-Déco Suite Les Trois Rois, offers two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious living room with an open fireplace and its own roof-top terrace, complete with Jacuzzi, a sauna and panoramic views over Basel and the Rhine.

I stayed in a very elegant, cosy room on the second floor with lavish soft furnishings in deep, warm shades of burgundy, antique furniture and a beautiful marble bathroom. I loved the level of detail in the room from the printed wallpaper to the most beautiful, ornate curtain tiebacks. Tall French windows gave me direct access to a lovely terrace right on the Rhine from where you could watch the barges float by. The room was very comfortable and I must say the bedding stood out as being particularly soft and fluffy.

The hotel is home to the famous three-star Michelin restaurant Le Cheval Blanc. Peter Knogl’s French haute cuisine offers culinary creations with Mediterranean and Asian influences. I ate at the Brasserie Les Trois Rois. The restaurant serves Swiss and French brasserie specialties, including such standards as émincé de veau à la zurichoise and boeuf du Simmental with its own special twist. If you choose to eat at the Brasserie make sure you get a river view table. You literally have the Rhine flowing at your feet. In the summer they have a beautiful terrace hanging over the river. The hotel also has a third Italian restaurant located a few blocks away called Chez Donati. And if you just want to unwind, there is a lovely lounge and a further bar, where you can enjoy an afternoon tea or a classic cocktail whilst listening to live piano music. On the lower-ground floor there is a cigar room with leather sofas and purple velvet pillows for cigar enthusiasts offering a selection of 135 cigars.

The only thing missing in this beautiful hotel is a spa. It does, however, offer a bright, compact, well-equipped gym where you can run on the treadmill whilst gazing out over the Rhine. They also have a lovely massage room and guests can book treatments with the concierge.

If you are looking for pure luxury, refined elegance and sophisticated style, I would really recommend staying at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois during your next visit to Basel. You will not be disappointed!

23rd March 2017