Prizes honour the efforts of the Grand Hôtel des Rasses and CGN to enhance their historic heritage
The heritage conservation experts on the jury of ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) awarded the Historic restaurant of 2019 title to the furnishings of the first-class salons on the Belle Epoque steamers operated by the Lake Geneva General Navigation Company (CGN). The Europe's largest fleet of restored paddle steamers offers discovery cruises and gourmet voyages. The salons, lovingly restored to preserve the charm of yesteryear, are authentic floating restaurants – each with its own gastronomic style.
In the Historic hotel of 2019 category, ICOMOS honoured the Grand Hôtel des Rasses. This three-star hotel, built in 1898 and extended in 1913, offers 44 rooms and suites. Perched atop a Jura plateau, a stone's throw from Sainte-Croix, it also offers its guests a welcoming Belle Epoque ambience. After recent refurbishment, the hotel has carried the Swiss Historic Hotels label since October 2018. Highlights include a superb dining room and a terrace with panoramic Alpine vistas. An ideal natural setting to recharge batteries, with hiking trails that start on the doorstep.