Where the Past Becomes Part of the Stay
Some hotels have been welcoming guests for generations; others give historic buildings an entirely new purpose. Heritage & Historic Hotels spans centuries of architecture—from ancient monasteries, castles and coaching inns to grand mansions, Art Nouveau landmarks and Art Deco icons. Some were built as hotels, others have been brilliantly adapted. What connects them is a respect for what came before, allowing original architecture, craftsmanship and stories to remain part of the experience rather than becoming simply a backdrop.
Built in 1757 in traditional “Bauer Baroque” style, the authentic Gasthof Hirschen is a boutique hotel avant-la-lettre located in the bucolic village of Schwarzenberg surrounded by the mountains and pastures of the Bregenzer Forest. Behind its Baronial façade of cured timber, mandatory flowering blooms and Austrian frescos you will discover a fascinating history and an impressive art collection where rustic meets East Side Gallery.
read moreAlthough a new hotel, the St. George in Helsinki is set in a classic building completed in 1890 with parts going back to the 1840s. Designed by architect Onni Tarjanne, who was also responsible for the Finnish National Theatre, the building played host to the Finnish Literature Society and as printing house for the first Finnish newspaper, Suometar.
read moreThe Cow Hollow is an indie boutique hotel set in a handsomely restored, turn-of-the-century textile red-brick warehouse. Interiors feature high ceilings, exposed oak beams, Carrara marble fireplaces, walnut sash windows, antique mercury mirrors, bronze chandeliers, a fake palm tree in the reception area and oil paintings on the walls. The hotel is located in Manchester’s most exiting neighbourhood, the thriving Northern Quarter with its indie boutiques, bars and galleries.
read moreA luxury small hotel in townhouse-style, Sanders blurs the lines between a traditional boutique hotel and a more residential setting. Set in a classical Jugendstil building, dating back to 1869, with a façade freshly coated in signature Copenhagen green, interiors are an eclectic mix of styles: Danish mid-century modern, colonial chic and a dash of theatrical drama.
read moreLong Story Short is a casually hip hostel in the Czech city of Olomouc. Located in the old town, it is a short meander away from the main square and other ecclesiastical sights such as the Holy Trinity Column. The hostel is set in a 17th-century horseshoe-shaped building of 1,000m2 (11,000 square feet) that was used for military purposes. Inside, the restored building shows original details combined with a mix of (mostly Czech) vintage furnishings and simple materials such as wood, metal and concrete.
read moreWinner of the UNESCO architecture prize Prix Versailles 2017 (a global architecture prize for stores, hotels and restaurants) for its interiors, the boutique Hotel Spedition is located in a historically protected building in Thun, 30 km from Interlaken and 60 km from Gstaad.
read moreThe sexy Six Senses Duxton is Six Senses Resorts first urban hotel. It is located in Singapore’s historic Tanjong Pagar area, amidst shopping and eating venues. The hotel was originally a row of traditional shophouses re-designed by Anouska Hempel to blend the shophouse aesthetic with the comfort of a hotel. The hotel clearly bears Hempel’s signature style with yellow, gold and black design elements, including oversized Chinese fans as wall art.
read moreThe QVEST Hotel Cologne marries Neo-Gothic architecture with a museum-worthy collection of modern design, art, and photography.
read moreA firm favourite with the Milanese high society since 1863 (and still private owned), and -more recently- with the fashionista incrowd, the Grand Hotel et de Milan is a classic grand hotel, yet always with that je-ne-sais-quoi atmoshere that is always in fashion.
read moreDistributed between 3 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, on a narrow cobblestone street, the Sapientia is a boutique hotel is located next to the University of Coimbra, on top of the hill overlooking the Mondego river. The style is modern, a sort of quasi-rustic minimalism, with artwork made from the pages of classic Portuguese books.
read moreFamous for its eponymous university, Durham is laden with historic pubs, listed buildings, cosy cafes and spellbinding churches, surrounded by rolling countryside and quiet villages. A stone’s throw from the city’s cathedral and castle – which together make up the city’s famous UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Hotel Indigo Durham is also within easy walking distance from the train station.
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