Two outstanding facilities are now the newest members of the Relais & Châteaux Association.
These properties reach from northern to southern Europe, from Sweden to Italy. Each has its own personal style and spirit, yet both share the values that all members of the collection promote and practice: a deep understanding of genuine hospitality founded on strongly rooted local presence. Relais & Châteaux now offers a new destination with the opening of the Stadshotell in Stockholm, while Villa Cortine Palace Hotel in Sirmione boasts 19th-century resort architecture on lush, manicured grounds shaded by palms and cypresses on the shores of Lake Garda.
Stockholm Stadshotell, Stockholm, Sweden
32 guest rooms (including 9 suites)
This Stockholm landmark building houses the first establishment in Sweden to be selected by Relais & Châteaux. The property, known as “Oscar I Minne,” was originally built in 1870 with the purpose of providing a home for widows in need. It was commissioned by Queen Josephine as a tribute to the memory of her late husband, King Oscar I. The Stockholm Stadshotell is centrally located in the capital’s trendy quarter of Södermalm, surrounded by designer fashion boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, making it the ideal location for soaking up local culture. The team behind this brand-new property, intent on immersing guests in an ambiance that is both distinguished and intimate, enlisted architectural specialists in restoring historic buildings.
With decades of experience in renovation and art de vivre, the management team has imbued the project with a particular elegance, steeped in Scandinavian heritage. This can be seen in the interior décor of the 23 guest rooms and nine guest suites, with furnishings inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, bearing the hallmarks of Swedish design and harmonizing with soft hues brightened by colorful art and design. The hotel will regularly host cultural events overseen by an art director whose sole responsibility is working directly with the partners to ensure the creative atmosphere. The cuisine will draw inspiration from local resources and the distinct seasons of the Nordic climate, combined with ideas, techniques, and cultures from other parts of the culinary world.
On the ground floor and spilling out into the courtyard, a large, inviting living room, bistro, and classic bar will offer an informal atmosphere, while upstairs, a more elegant yet warm and welcoming fine dining experience awaits.
The hotel will also feature the essentials of a Swedish spa: sauna, ice bath, sensory showers – ensuring truly relaxing moments after a day of urban exploring.
Villa Cortine Palace, Sirmione, Italy
52 rooms (including 8 suites)
This villa could easily have served as a movie set for Luchino Visconti or Paolo Sorrentino, the site of a classic Italian film like The Leopard or The Great Beauty. In immense private grounds surrounded by towering cypresses and palms, with ancient statues rising from mossy pools and cascades of blooming roses, Villa Cortine Palace is the quintessence of Italian romanticism characterizing these cinematographic works. It is an extraordinary property, just minutes from the petite, walled, medieval town of Sirmione, on the tip of this lovely peninsula.
Lake Garda, the largest of the Italian lakes, encircles the property, resembling a sparkling sea that can be accessed from the hotel’s substantial pier. The elegant building still has all its 19th-century charm: high colonnades, coffered ceilings, wall frescoes, floors of marble or marquetry. In these historic surroundings, home to stately antique furniture and Murano crystal, the atmosphere is refined yet brightened with warm and joyful Italian spirit. The same is true of the abundant Mediterranean cuisine served within the gleaming marble and gilt of the Le Gardenie restaurant, on the terrace of the Al Molo and the Maria Callas, or on the balcony of the Belvedere, with a panoramic view. All 52 guest rooms and suites, whether in the property’s historic wing or its more recent extensions, have the elegant, timeless décor that is the mark of the finest patrician residences. And, naturally, the windows, balcony, or terrace of everyone looks towards the deep, shimmering blue of the lake.
