Few places in the world can make time seemingly stand still – and usually not a place that prides itself on punctuality and time pieces. So imagine a luxury hotel in the heart of Switzerland’s watch making region, owned and operated by a luxury watch brand, that asks you to actually take all the time you need.
Hôtel Des Horlogers (translation, Hotel of Watchmakers) does just that. It asks you to appreciate time rather than just spend it. And by doing so, you get to slow down, reset and recharge, all in a peaceful setting. The hotel’s origins in Switzerland’s Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux date back to 1857. But in 2003, watch maker Audemars Piguet bought the property and transformed it into an architecturally-forward, eco-friendly hotel. The hotel continuously strives for eco-awareness, earning the latest Minergie-Eco (European) requirements for energy efficiency and eco-responsible construction. The hotel tackles the environmental issues so you can relax at ease, whether in your room overlooking fields, in the spa, or lounging outdoors.
Photo: Hôtel Des Horlogers
Why Choose This Hotel?
If you’re in need of a place where you can move at a slow pace, drink in the rolling hills and not feel the rush of a city pulling you, then Hôtel Des Horlogers is the spot to unpack your bags. Their entire motto is to slow down time, to feel the gentle tick of the watch but not be impeded by it. There’s no “to-do” list per se, but visits to the nearby small villages of the Valle des Joux can offer up incredible cheese tastings (they’re known for their Vacherin Mont d’Or–a creamy, soft cow’s milk cheese), stops by local galleries and museums, and afternoon spent by the lake.
What did you love about your room?
Photo courtesy of Hôtel Des Horlogers
Each morning, I was awakened by the distant sound of jingling cow bells. Every room overlooks a nearby farm and field, where Swiss cows happily graze and around 7:30 am each morning, those cows merrily jumped, kicked and ran to the stable for their morning routine. I’d watch their simple joy while having my own (a strong coffee on the chair looking out with the window open). On the strong coffee front, that’s another plus in the room – a Nespresso machine with a hefty supply of espresso pods is a hotel room perk I can’t do without. In keeping with their locally sourced, and eco-conscious ethos, the coffee is roasted in the Vallée de Joux and comes in biodegradable capsules. Part of what makes the 50 rooms and suites so quiet that you can be awakened by cow bells is how it was designed. No room sits directly overtop of another room (you notice this by the zipper-like exterior). That means no wondering why your upstairs neighbour is doing jumping jacks with a kettle bell at 6 am.
What surprised you?
I’m not one to easily relax – usually it takes a few days for my nervous system to finally ease. But at Hôtel Des Horlogers, it really only took me a day to just breathe and not pick up my phone to check the time, or my emails with a little help from their spa that features Swiss-made products by Alpeor.
Another element that you can feel, more so than see, is their commitment to environmentally consciousness. The hotel is filled with warm, raw materials – from the smoothed, wooden roots of trees hanging from the ceiling in the main lobby, to the light wood panelling on the floors and ceilings in the rooms, you sense nature, craftsmanship and soothing all around you.
Hôtel Des Horlogers lobby. Photo: @meubles.thouret
Audemars Piguet Atelier Museum. Photo by Marika Godin
Since the hotel is rooted in watchmaking, booking a tour and visit to the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet next door is key for anyone who loves design or watches in general. It’s an exclusive museum, and booking in advance is key, but you’ll see some of the most beautiful watches in the world – and if you’re keen and have the bank account, you can get your very own.
What else struck you as noteworthy or cossetting?
As someone who still likes “to do things” even when I’m destressing, daily excursions to small towns and villages was the slow paced activity I needed. You can use the hotel’s electric bikes to spin down to the valley and cycle along the lake. You can drive out to Les Charbonnières to explore the village’s famous cheese and if you’re there in September you can even take part in the parade of cows returning home after a summer on the mountain peaks. You’re isolated enough for moments of calm at the hotel, but not struck off from a little bit of adventure.
How was the dining experience?
Photo courtesy of Hôtel Des Horlogers
The hotel has one restaurant on site – Brasserie Le Gogant. Its setting is elegant and minimal with large windows for letting in the morning sunlight and, at night, you can look out and catch the stars above. The menu is focused on local ingredients and traditional Swiss dishes, and 70 per cent of the wine is Swiss as well (order the Chesselas for a crisp white wine). Veggies from the hotel garden and local producers accent the locally sourced meat.
What is next for the hotel?
The hotel will be updating and maintaining its eco status with room upgrades and elevating the dining experience.
Need to know
Mini-bar
Iron and ironing board available on request
In-room Nespresso coffee machine
Safe
Connected TV
Wi-Fi
Alpeor products in bathrooms
Air conditioning
Timeless-design bed
Robes and slippers
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