The Hotel

In the area of the outer spoil heap, lively building and land speculation blossomed in the early 1870s. The reason for this was the intention to construct the station of the future Gotthard Railway on the Hausermatte. In the hope of attracting travellers from the forthcoming Gotthard station, Jacob Beutter and his financier Friedrich Knörr built the "Hotel de l'Europe" in 1873/74 and opened it at the end of May 1875.

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.

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.

Between 2018 and 2020, the Bellerive Wing underwent extensive renovation, during which eight additional rooms were created in the attic. The rooms in the Tivoli Wing were newly furnished, the fire safety concept was updated, an external escape staircase was added, and the hotel kitchen was completely refurbished. During the winter season 2024/25, the rooms in the Main Wing were comprehensively modernised and, together with the Tivoli Wing, equipped with air conditioning. In addition, the building’s safety systems were brought up to the latest standards, meaning that all hotel rooms are now 100% air-conditioned. Currently, in the winter season 2025/26, 13 attic rooms in the Rigi Wing are being developed and the roof is being renewed. Completion is scheduled for early summer 2026. From June 2026, a total of 190 air-conditioned rooms will be available.