Hôtel de la Cigogne: complete charm

The neo-medieval façade and Flemish gable depict a stork unfurling its wings to greet visitors. The decor is representative of the hotel's fantastical character.

This charming, yet unusual, kingdom offers as many rooms as it does styles. Different rooms to choose from: the Romantic four-poster bed and canopy from some Spanish palace, the Chinese folding screens, or the determined futurist style covered in metal. A deliciously strange and passionate collection of antiquities and chiné furniture.

The establishment was built in 1900 by a Dardagny wine-grower in order to run off his wine. At the time, it was considered the most luxurious hotel in the city, as each room was equipped with a bathroom and running water, among other things. But the luxurious hotel also experienced setbacks. It was sold several times and transformed into a meeting place for illegal immigrants during the war, and finally turned into a gambling den. In 1979, it was bought by an architect. The building was gradually renovated, yet today it still retains its glamour of yesteryear. It kept the Salève molasse-stone façades, but added on two new stories in the process. The restaurant offers a beautiful wine list with 350 vintages, obliging a return to the wine-growing sources! 

 Information and contact:

Hôtel de la Cigogne
17 Place Longemalle (locate)
1204 Geneva
Ph. + 41 (0)22 818 40 40
www.cigogne.ch
Photo CCA