The History

Proprietors

The "Hotel de l’Europe" was built between 1873 and 1874 and opened in May 1875. At the time, Jacob Beutter and Friedrich Knörr anticipated that the Gotthard railway station for the future Gotthard line would be built in the nearby Hausermatte quarter. It was not to be: the station project was scrapped in 1877. The Hotel Europe was acquired by the hotel group of Franz Joseph Bucher-Durrer and, until 1904, remained the property of this, Europe's largest hotel operator. For a short time, the Grand Hotel Europe belonged to the brothers Mathae and Johann Balthasar Hagen. By 1908 they had sold the venerable establishment to Lucerne hotelier Richard Matzig. It was acquired in 1934 by Grand Hotel Europe AG, in whose hands it remains to this day.

The Hotel

Thirteen years after its inauguration in 1875, the three rear annexes with the large and small dining rooms were erected. The sumptuous interior decoration lends a festive air to the treasured rooms. In 1904 and 1905 the foyer (or "Promenading Hall" as it was called) was created. Guests can still admire its original Jugendstil-style stained glass windows. On the night of 4 June 1920 a major fire destroyed part of the hotel. The post-war years witnessed extensive renovation and new construction. Electricity was installed in the kitchen, the laundry building was erected, a new portico over the main entrance was built and private bathrooms were added to all the rooms. In 1980 the foyer, reception area and hotel bar were remodelled. In 2005 most of the guest rooms were completely renovated and modern seminar facilities added.