Enjoy the legacy of good food

From the excursion destinations we recommend to the places our kitchen ingredients come from, the Grandhotel Giessbach is shaped by the local region and honours this heritage with great respect. Many farmers and local producers contribute to the well-being of the hotel guests with their produce. This deeply rooted connection with the land bears the hallmark of Franz Weber and constitutes one of the most subtle forms of environmental protection there is.

The water we are made of

Water is life. Water is the pure elixir we yearn for. The life-affirming energy exuded by the Grandhotel Giessbach is fed by the power of water. The Giesse Stream, with its waterfall, cascading into the depths of Lake Brienz. The Grandhotel Giessbach is surrounded and sustained by the restorative power of water.

Welcome to Switzerland’s largest wellness complex!

Nature, flora, and fauna in a thousand facets. Culture. Travel back through 200 years of eventful tourism history at the historical Giessbach residential hotel.

Giessbach Suite

Elegance meets spectacular vistas: 25 square metres of private terrace belonging to the Giessbach Suite offers a breathtaking and unforgettable view of the Giessbach Falls and Lake Brienz. Invigorating mountain air, sunsets for romantics and existentialists alike. To the left, a waterfall, sometimes murmuring, sometimes roaring, a constant reminder of what Nature means.

Kehrli Suite

Up in the tower is the Kehrli Suite, our homage to Johann Kehrli. He single-handedly created a footpath winding up from the lake shore to the second tier of the falls and installed a bench there. The architectural evolution of the Giessbach is all thanks to Kehrli: the bench was followed by a simple shelter (1822), then a “Gaststube” (dining parlour), and finally by the “Gasthaus Giessbach” in.

Hauser Suite

The Hauser Suite earns its name from the well-known family of hoteliers, the Hausers, who bought the “Giessbach property” in 1870. Karl Hauser commissioned the most celebrated hotel builder of the time, Horace Edouard Davinet, to design a new building: a five-storey palace hotel. Davinet promptly set about building a five-storey construction with domed towers in the “Louvre” style, and a sweeping flight of steps. After two years of construction, the hotel opened in 1875.

Horace Edouard Suite

The light and airy Horace Edouard Suite offers a splendid view of Lake Brienz. It is named after the Swiss-French architect Horace Edouard Davinet (* 23 February 1839 in Pont-d’Ain; † 30 June 1922 in Bern). After the death of his mother, Davinet spent much of his time living in Bern. In 1856, he began an apprenticeship with his brother-in-law Jakob Friedrich Studer. Alongside Studer, he was involved in the design of the Bundeshaus (the parliament building) and the Bernerhof luxury hotel in Bern. He also worked on the new hotels in the Bernese Oberland, the Grandhôtel Giessbach on the shores of Lake Brienz, and the Jungfraublick in Interlaken.

Von Rappard Suite

Named in honour of artist Clara von Rappard. Since 1989, several of Clara von Rappard’s works have adorned the walls of the Davinet Suite at the Giessbach hotel. The artist lived in Villa Rappard in the Kleinen Rugen mountains in Matten. Her father Conrad had the first hotel and thermal establishment in Giessbach built (it is now the staff building). Our Davinet Suite is named after Swiss-French architect Horace Edouard Davinet (* 23 February 1839 in Pont-d’Ain; † 30 June 1922 in Bern). His blueprints were used for the construction of the historical Grandhotel Giessbach from 1873 to 1875, for the Hauser hotelier dynasty from Zurich. The extraordinary elegance of this boldly designed hotel complex and its splendid environment were quick to bring him worldwide renown.

Davinet Suite

Our Davinet Suite is named after Swiss-French architect Horace Edouard Davinet (* 23 February 1839 in Pont-d’Ain; † 30 June 1922 in Bern). His blueprints were used for the construction of the historical Grandhotel Giessbach from 1873 to 1875, for the Hauser hotelier dynasty from Zurich. The extraordinary elegance of this boldly designed hotel complex and its splendid environment were quick to bring him worldwide renown.

Franz Weber Suite

The suite with views of Lake Brienz is named after Franz Weber. From the 1980s, the internationally renowned Swiss environmentalist began working to protect the Grandhotel Giessbach, alongside his wife Judith, daughter Vera, and many other supporters, including the Canton of Bern and the municipality of Brienz. In 1982 Franz Weber launched a nationwide funding drive to save Giessbach from demolition. He then set up the foundation “Giessbach dem Schweizervolk” (Giessbach for the Swiss People) and was able to purchase the 22-hectare historical Giessbach estate, and progressively restore it back to Davinet’s original style, in several phases. And so, this precious Époque Grand Hotel was not replaced by a concrete building, continuing to delight us with its remarkable cultural and historical treasures.

Giron Suite

The Giron Suite and the Salon Giron on the Bel Etage of the Grandhotel Giessbach are named in honour of Swiss portraitist and landscape painter Charles Giron (* 2 April 1850 in Geneva; † 9 June 1914 in Genthod (Canton of Geneva)). Giron had begun an apprenticeship as an enameller, but decided not to pursue this and instead took up lessons with François Diday and Barthélemy Menn. In 1872, he moved to Paris, where he worked for the studio of Alexandre Cabanel, and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1876, he exhibited his works at the Paris Salon. Giron devoted much of his work to landscape and portrait painting. He lived in many places, including Cannes, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In 1887, he was awarded the Order of Leopold from the Kingdom of Belgium. A year later, he was awarded the French Legion of Honour. In 1896, Giron returned to Switzerland and went to live variously at several spots by Lake Geneva. His most famous work is his 1902 mural “Die Wiege der Eidgenossenschaft” (“The Cradle of the Confederation”), which is displayed in the National Council chamber of the Bundeshaus parliament building in Bern.

At the Grandhotel Giessbach, Giron’s large-scale “Schwingfest in den Alpen” (Wrestling Festival in the Alps) can be admired in the salon that bears his name. It is his largest canvas painting.

Guests staying in the Giron Suite will be struck by the large windows overlooking the forest, lake, and town of Brienz. The suite thus naturally highlights the awe-inspiring landscape of the Giessbach.

In the midst of nature

The longing for nature is becoming ever greater. Unspoilt experiences in the nature park of the Grandhotel Giessbach are possible at any time of year. The energy of the waterfall, the trees and the rock formations never ceases to amaze. In any light and at any time of year, the sight provides breathtaking moments that invigorate the mind and soul. The Giessbach Foundation takes great care of the entire complex and the surrounding forests in order to preserve this lifeline for future generations. Enjoy moments of closeness to nature, and enjoy the power that is created. It is a total work of art from the earth and the rock that is unparalleled.

Experience winter at Giessbach

During the months of the summer season, people repeatedly asked how the Grandhotel Giessbach felt in winter. Now is the opportunity to find out for yourself. Away from conventional luxury and the hustle and bustle of everyday life, towards unspoilt nature and soothing tranquillity.

From November to March, the Grandhotel Giessbach opens its doors to individual guests and a wide variety of events on numerous winter days and weekends. Celebrate your very own occasion in the "fairytale castle" and winter-enchanted nature park. For exclusive events, the hotel and the restaurant remain closed for guests who are not participating in the event.

After an invigorating walk in the park, read your favourite book by the open fire while enjoying a hot cup of tea or a matching glass of wine. In the evening, our restaurant team will spoil you in the historic rooms with loving creations and lots of regional culinary delights from the famous Giessbach kitchen.

Our restaurant "Les Cascades" is also open for day guests at lunchtime and in the evening. Please make a reservation in advance and find out about the opening hours.

Arrive - Immerse – Relax

We look forward to seeing you!

Directions via Lake Brienz and the mountains

The path leading to a place is like the gateway to an inner feeling. This particular path hugs Lake Brienz and rises up to the Giessbach, the waterfall that spills out from the Giesse Stream. Like an artery leading to the heart, the steep, narrow mountain road takes us to the Grandhotel Giessbach. Upon arrival, we are plunged into another universe, another time. Coming to the Grandhotel Giessbach is a journey deep within yourself that will transform your thoughts.

Sustainability has been the passionate topic at the Giessbach and on the grounds of our entire domain since the rescue in 1982-1984. So in 2019, work also began to restore the historic 1897 vegetable garden. In 2021, after two years of laboratory work and heartfelt commitment by our garden, kitchen and maintenance Team, the old garden was resurrected with over 80 ProSpecieRara and organic vegetable varieties. Our restaurants were first supplied with our own vegetables, herbs, honey and veal from our park as far as possible from this year onwards. We are now able to present this moving work and the commitment of our team for the first time in the resulting film "From the domain to the plate".