In 1907 Anton Bühler, a wine merchant from Meggen, decided to convert the manor on the outskirts of Lucerne that he had bought in 1905 into a hotel. It opened its doors as the "Hotel & Pension Hermitage". Bќhler must have had an inkling almost a century ago that the fabulous location of this plot of land on the shore of Lake Lucerne would turn "normal" lodgings into a special hotel. Or, in our words, a "lakeside hotel with the added extra".
In 1931, a small but charming bathing beach was added. Built in Art Nouveau style, the adjacent building is still a stylish feature in the hotel grounds. With its hotel operations, restaurant, outdoor cafщ, bathing beach and park, the Hermitage was an unparalleled attraction. Added to this was the fact that the Hermitage was not only accessible "overland". The short round-trip of the lake with the nostalgic boats "Rütli" and "Reuss" included a stop at the hotel's landing stage even in those days. On fine summer days, the culinary delights of the Hermitage could be combined with a boat trip on one of Switzerland's finest lakes - just like today.
In 1938, the first major expansion project started, documenting the future-oriented approach at the Hermitage.
In 1954, the Hotel Hermitage was acquired by Fritz Kopp-Dober and the far-sighted approach assumed new dimensions. The new owner planned and implemented a new extension, which further increased the hotel's appeal. In the 1980s, the family shareholders as new owners acknowledged that the business could no longer continue in its present form if future success was to be assured. They recognized that the Hermitage tradition was worth upholding but not its buildings. The result was a concept for a new Hotel Hermitage, the purpose of which was to continue the story of the business as a top-flight hotel.
1988 The old one was replaced on the same site between 1988 and 1990 by a new one, which took advantage of the superb location and upgraded it with all the amenities of a first-class, modern hotel.
Realization of the extension building 1999
Since July 1999 the into town located annex offers 30 additional and comfortable double rooms. Also the Wellness-Corner in the new building put the accent more in front for well-being. The more than doubled number of rooms is oblige the organizers of meetings and other events - Now all participants can stay at the same house. Highlights for conferences and meetings are the two new meeting rooms in the top floor of the main building. You can be sure that the learning success with free round view the attractivity of the place does justice to.....
2001 Another new attraction at the Hermitage is the "Seegarten Hermitage", its lakeside garden. In the grounds of the Hermitage "bathing house", a summer restaurant offering barbecue dishes was built during the winter without affecting the basic features of the nostalgic building. This romantic corner of the grounds now enjoys better use and is accessible to a wider public. During the daytime, hotel guests have unrestricted use of the bathing facilities.
2002 12 years to the day after the "Quatre Saisons" restaurant opened, it reopened in November with its new name "Baccara" following comprehensive renovation. The new restaurant was named after the rose of the same name. Just like its namesake, the restaurant is not only visually attractive but radiates a very special ambiance. In keeping with the name, the room is decorated in a warm, rosy tone while furnishings and other appointments remain consciously understated.
2005/06 The junior suites in the main building were redesigned in 2005/06 to accentuate the Hermitage's quality features – its quiet location combined with a first-class level of comfort. At the same time, the Seehotel Hermitage repurchased the three-star Hotel Bellevue across the road, which had formerly belonged to the Hermitage. This hotel has 19 double rooms and is managed independently. However, the Hermitage's management is responsible for the hotel.
2006/07 In the latest extension work in 2007 by architect Andreas Moser of TGS Partner in Lucerne, two additional floors were added to the west guest rooms built in 1999. This means an additional 18 superior de luxe rooms and the "Lake'n Mountains" suite. The new lounge caters to our guests' feeling of wellbeing, while the attractive new bar terrace attracts both hotel guests and passers-by.
The Hermitage can now offer a total of one business suite, 20 junior suites, 48 double rooms as well as various seminar and meeting rooms, which can also be used for events hosting up to 200 people.
The continuous expansion of the Seehotel Hermitage reflects the positive development that the hotel has undergone in the three sectors of its core business since 1990. It is naturally gratifying that the Hermitage has been able to meet demand without having to sacrifice any of its park or trees. However, in order to complete the final stage of construction, the Hermitage closed to guests completely for one month in winter 2007 for the first time since it opened in 1990. The board of directors and management decided that guests should not be expected to tolerate the inconvenience connected with construction work.
The Seehotel Hermitage remains in family ownership under the auspices of Seehotel Hermitage Luzern AG, with Fritz Kopp-Z'Graggen as Chairman and main shareholder. Since its opening in 1990, the hotel has been managed by Thomas P. Egli.
