Grand Hotel National Luzern

Summary

Luzern's second oldest five-star hotel dates back to 1870. The luxury hotel became famous primarily during the period when it was managed by the renowned Swiss hotel manager César Ritz (1878 – 1890). His head chef at the time was the distinguished French cook Auguste Escoffier, who developed the modern organisation for hotel kitchens in Luzern. Personalities from all over Europe came to the «National», including guests such as Empress Sisi and the Shah of Persia. In 1920, a special conference on the Treaty of Versailles took place at the «National». For a certain period, the building also served as a comfortable exile for abdicated kings. Cinema and TV productions: «Sisi und ich», «Der Scheich».