Ancient and modern: Historic hotels blending heritage with slick design

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw might have a point about progress – but how do you move into the modern age if you’re the guardian of an important historic building?

Historic Hotels of Europe members occupy some of the world’s most evocative palaces, castles and homes. The challenge is to conserve the fabric of the old, while making them relevant for modern guests to relish.

We’ve hand-picked some of those we think have struck the perfect balance between past and present.

CITY SLICKERS

Historic buildings that have stood firm against urban developers face stiff competition from slick new builds – but we believe these hotels stand head and shoulders above the newcomers.

Hotel Kraft, Basel, Switzerland

Enjoying an idyllic location on the banks of the Rhine in Kleinbasel, Hotel Kraft opened its doors in 1873 and has been attracting artists and art lovers ever since.

Hermann Hesse wrote his novel Der Steppenwolf here – and there’s plenty of inspiration in the Rhine and city views outside. But the interiors are something special too. While the hotel exterior has been maintained in traditional style, the rooms are modern and stylish, featuring Vitra Design furniture and contemporary touches. The pared-back rooms rub shoulders elegantly with original features such as tiled floors and rich, weathered wood.

Marktgasse Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland

Also in Switzerland – in the heart of Zurich’s romantic old town – is the Marktgasse Hotel, with a sprawling history stretching back as far as 1425. Extensive renovation works have concentrated on preserving the heritage of the building, while redefining the concept of luxury.

This means exposed columns, playful frescoes and nostalgic lattice windows play host to 39 atmospheric rooms fitted with design classics and timeless parquet flooring. The redesign has created a more casual, updated feel – but without sacrificing anything in the way of quality.

Hotel Hviezdoslav, Slovakia

Slovakia’s High Tatras attract many visitors and if you’re looking for a small hotel with a big heart, you can’t go wrong with the Hotel Hviezdoslav. It’s in the middle of historic royal town Kežmarok and has been created from four interconnected 17th century houses, just a few steps from the castle.

Renovations have worked with the quirky nooks and arches of the old buildings but harmonised them by opting for a modern baroque style in three of the houses, plus a warm colonial style in the fourth. A bowling alley and spa complete the luxe modern touches – but they blend with the historic nature of the four houses. The hotel is named after great Slovak poet and writer Pavol Orságh Hviezdoslav, who lived in one of the houses during his studies at the famous lyceum of Kežmarok. Modern day readers and writers will love the Literary coffee bar, complete with library and inspiring portraits of poets and writers who have studied nearby.

 

COUNTRY RETREATS

Outside the city, the threats to historic buildings are different. Fading fortunes and political upheaval have seen many important buildings disappear. These wonderful examples have not just survived but reinvented themselves for the modern era.

Pechy Castle, Slovakia

Pechy Castle contrasts with its compatriot hotel Hotel Hviezdoslav, as it’s an impressive country house, complete with hunting lodge, in the middle of a beautiful English-style park.

Today it’s owned by interior designer and architecture journalist Klara Szakall von Losoncz, so it’s no wonder the place is a knockout. No detail has been neglected: Klara has used local stone and larch wood, combining them with French and English textiles and throwing in antique and contemporary furniture and art. Precious crystal chandeliers contrast with rough stone walls to create a unique interior that’s a true update of the old hunting lodge of days gone by.

Chateau Gbel’any, Slovakia

Travelling west, you’ll find another gracious park residence in Chateau Gbel’any. The 18th century baroque chateau was falling into disrepair until extensive reconstruction works transformed this crumbling mansion into a modern luxury hotel.

The building itself has been allowed to star in this sympathetic renovation: the interiors achieve their luxe feel through pared-back design, focusing on excellence in every detail.

The perfect blend of design and place, Hotel Mikulášska chata Jasná sits amid pine trees and mountains in Slovakia’s biggest ski resort.

While the exterior is the same classic Tatra chalet architecture as in bygone days, today’s interior is a minimal haven full of simple, elegant furniture created from the very trees that surround it.

Twr y Felin Hotel, St Davids, Wales

The story of Twr y Felin Hotel hasn’t been a straightforward one. The original windmill tower was well-built in 1805 but a hotel extension, constructed 100 years later, was much less robust. Restoration work was underway when gales finished off the rotten earth and lime walls.

What you see today is a faithful recreation of the original form – but with a breathtaking, reimagined interior. Hotel owner Keith Griffiths is chairman of Aedas, the fifth largest architectural company in the world, so it’s no surprise that this is a hotel with a difference.

Furniture is by former furniture designer of the year Channels and the walls are the perfect backdrop for original artwork commissioned specifically for the hotel.

Hammet House, Cardigan, Wales

An hour up the road, Hammet House is a Georgian mansion on the banks of the river Teifi. In fact, parts of the house date back even further – to 1450 – and the building has gone through many changes in its long history.

The most recent saw owner Philippa Gale strip out much adornment, to allow the Georgian features to shine in a modern and playful way. She introduced fresh, clean lines and the best design from the past 50 years. A muted and restful colour palette is brightened by pops of colour from furniture such as Egg chairs and Artifort sofas. Very much a personal project by Philippa, Hammet House has already built a firm following of fans.

Albergo Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland

The Albergo Monte Verità lies in an area that has attracted people seeking an ‘alternative’ life for more than 100 years. They renamed Monte Monescia the ‘Mount of Truth’, ate a vegetarian diet, worked the land and bathed naked outdoors.

The community’s reputation grew until it was attracting thinkers, writers, poets and artists from all corners of the globe. Although the original settlers built humble timber huts, more substantial buildings sprang up over the years, including this one, constructed in the Bauhaus style by Emil Fahrekamp in 1927. Renovated in 2008, it retains a characteristically quirky feel, incorporating influences from Japan, the local area, as well as original Bauhaus furniture.