Le Chic En Rose

The American author and travel writer, Mark Twain, wrote in 1897 that Weggis was, “the loveliest place” he had ever visited! It would be hard to disagree and I’m almost loathe to share this enchanting place with everyone as the secret will surely be out! We first came across this lakeside paradise in central Switzerland 5 years ago, on a visit to Lucerne, when we decided to take a trip across the lake to Mount Rigi. On the return journey the cable car descent took us straight into the heart of this pretty little town. We spent an idyllic hour or so whilst we waited for the next boat enjoying a couple of glasses of wine on the lakeside terrace of the Beau Rivage Hotel. When it was time to leave we were so smitten we vowed to come back some day!

The Beau Rivage Hotel in Weggis enjoys a delightful view across Lake Lucerne

Lakeside Garden Terrace Beau Rivage Hotel Weggis

Signposts in the centre of Weggis Switzerland

Since then we have been lucky enough to come back 3 times most recently this April. We have found that Weggis is an ideal place in which to spend a few nights en route back to Australia, after our visit to the family in the Uk and makes a refreshing change from our usual fast paced travels through Europe! It is the perfect place to chill, relax, breathe in the pure mountain air and recharge our batteries. Our little home from home has been the Post Hotel Weggis (POHO), which has as its aptly named promotional logo, “Chill Out In Style”.

View back towards the Post Hotel Weggis

To say its situation is superb would be an understatement. Only 45 minutes by ferry back to Lucerne you can literally step off the boat, wheel your suitcases across the little road via a pedestrian crossing, walk through the hotel doors and take the lift up to the hotel lobby. You could always walk up the grand marble staircase too if you’re travelling light or have a refreshing drink to recover from your journey in the bar terrace or in the warmer months down on the lakeside terrace. Buses also leave regularly from the quay in front of the hotel, which will take you to Kuessnacht and train connections to Lucerne.

Staircase in Entrance Lobby Post Hotel Weggis

Bar with artwork Post Hotel Weggis

View back to Post Hotel Weggis Lakeside Terrace Area

Since we usually visit in low season (April) we can get better deals on the room rates and also it is much less crowded than the more popular winter and summer seasons. Hence we always ask for and have been lucky enough to get a deluxe lakeside room with a view. You could while away many hours sitting on the balcony, overlooking Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstaettersee) and watch the boats coming and going from the little quay below.  The views out across the lake to the snow capped mountains beyond are magnificent!

View from the balcony of our room Post Hotel Weggis

Vierwaldstaettersee Weggis

View back in the direction of Lucerne from Post Hotel Weggis

Snow Capped Mountains Vierwaldstaettersee Switzerland

Buses also go regularly towards Schwyz or Kuessnacht where you can connect with a train to Lucerne

Sun setting over Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstattersee) view from Post Hotel Weggis

Sun setting over the lake Weggis

Lake Lucerne Weggis

Lake Lucerne Switzerland

In fact with all its facilities including a spa, beautiful rooms with a view,  a comfortable guest lounge, and a wonderful terrace overlooking the lake, you could easily just stay at the hotel all day long. The breakfasts are superb (full buffet and additional a la carte options available) and there are several restaurants including the authentic Swiss Weggiser Stuebli and Enoteca where you can again enjoy Swiss style food such as macaroni cheese with apple sauce or roesti in an intimate rustic wine cellar ambience. It is certainly not the place for diets or those with dairy intolerance delicious though the food is!

Quiet and peaceful, Weggis is a lovely place for a walk especially along the lake (there is another part of the town further up the hill called Weggis Dorf or village). Stepping out from the Post Hotel by the quay, one way leads back down to the Beau Rivage Hotel and the other in the direction of Lucerne, takes you past moorings with little boats bobbing up and down on the water until you reach a statue of a dancing nymph (or lady I haven’t been able to ascertain which). The point that you reach here, is a perfect spot in which to sit and contemplate the world or watch the ferries drawing in towards the quay further down by the Post Hotel.

The boat club Weggis

Monsieur Le Chic in front of the boat moorings in Weggis

The little town is spotlessly maintained as you would expect of Switzerland

Monsieur Le Chic imitates the “Statue On The Lake” at Weggis

Dancing Statue Weggis

Sitting by the lake

Watching the boats approaching the quay at Weggis

A contemplation spot Weggis

The boat glides past on its way to Weggis Quay

Each time we have visited, without fail, Weggis has had a beautiful display of flowers! The colours have been slightly different but always superb.

Flowers Of Weggis

Poppies along the lake

Naturally they would like you to keep your dog on a lead!

Display of flowers down by Weggis Quay

Pastel colours at Weggis

Walking back along past POHO one early evening and just before we reached the Beau Rivage Hotel, we took a detour up into the side streets which lead up to the Cable Car station. Everywhere was immaculate, the houses are small and many of them are divided into apartments but they always find a spot for some flowers and maybe even a gnome or two.

Window Box Weggis

Side streets leading up the hill Weggis

Some jolly garden gnomes Weggis!

Finally you can walk back down to the lake and return to the Quay pausing to say hello or “Gruezi” to a couple of local ducks who waddle around quite happily!

Ducks at Weggis

Ferry approaching Weggis Quay

Weggis Quay

Weggis Quay

Even shrouded in the mist Weggis is beautiful

Weggis is absolutely beautiful at any time of day or night,  but when the clouds come in and the mist descends over the lake it takes on a haunting magical quality that has to be seen to to believed!

Morning mist at Weggis Quay. The sun is trying to get through!

A boat appears through the mist on Lake Lucerne at Weggis

Mist and clouds over the lake at Weggis

Next week we’ll explore the mountain that rises up behind the Post Hotel, Rigi “”Queen Of The Mountains”. In the meantime for more wonderful walking ideas from around the world head over to Jo’s Monday Walks!

Ciao, Tchuess, Au Revoir (all of which we heard for “goodbye” in Switzerland)!

Copyright © 2014 Rosemary Thomas Le Chic En Rose. All rights reserved