A glass act: new four-star hotel Château Hochberg adds another jewel to Lalique's crown

Opposite the world-famous museum, Château Hochberg is a luxurious retreat in ideal position for exploring all things Lalique
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When world-famous glassmakers such as Lalique, best known for their delicate ornaments and centrepiece vases, put their brand behind an entire hotel, you know it's going to be special.

Sitting opposite the Lalique Museum, which receives 70,000 visitors a year, the newly-opened Château Hochberg, near Strasbourg in northern France, is a four-star hotel which is as luxurious as it is simple and effortlessly chic.

It's an ideal place to extend what would otherwise be a flying visit to the picturesque Wingen-sur-Moder region, just outside of Strasbourg.

Style

Set in the Northern Vosges regional national park, Château Hochberg is a pared-back alternative to the brand's boutique hotel-cum-showroom Villa René Lalique at the top of the hill.

A sweeping drive leads to a stately, pink sandstone building with wrought-iron balconies and terraces that overlook the landscaped grounds.

Stylish welcome: a crystal Lalique chandelier hangs over Château Hochberg's sleek bar area

The sleek reception area makes for a welcoming entrance, with a suspended crystal chandelier over the bar and plush velvet armchairs dotted throughout.

Bedrooms at the front of the property have views towards the museum and the national park beyond, while rear rooms overlook the hotel’s al fresco dining areas and the Mario Botta-designed events’ space, Pavillon Hochberg.

Recently opened, it has already hosted several wedding receptions. Private hire is available for guest numbers of up to 100, with catering by the hotel restaurant.

Until now, Lalique fans have been able to visit the public museum or stay in one of just six suites at the super-luxe villa nearby.

Named after the master craftsman René Lalique who built it, the grand space has been extensively renovated by Swiss businessman and Lalique owner Silvio Denz, plus teams of award-winning architects and designers.

It’s now a six-suite hotel packed with bespoke Lalique pieces, plus a two-Michelin star restaurant and 60,000-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar that gives Harrods’ glamorous underground caves a run for their money.

Hidden design gem

Although deliberately a more functional offering than its showroom sister hotel, Château Hochberg still has plenty of subtle Lalique crystal motifs in surprising places – check out the bathroom mirrors as a starting point.

For foodies

No visit to either the Lalique Museum or the new Château Hochberg is complete without a visit to the house that René Lalique built – especially for foodies or wine con or wine connoisseurs.

The hotels offer a complimentary shuttle service between the two, so there has been an increase in numbers of guests staying at Château Hochberg but trying out the two-Michelin star restaurant up the hill.

Luxurious: although a more pared-back offering than its sister hotel, Château Hochberg has delicate crystal motifs throughout the interiors

Which room?

All 15 rooms are bright and spacious with cool grey shades and sleek marble touches. Les Terrasses du Château rooms, of which there are four, have small balconies; while the two biggest rooms, Les Suites Lalique, can sleep two adults and a child of up to 12 years old.

Good to know

Neither hotels are far from Lalique’s manufacturing base, a factory that remains the sole producer of Lalique crystal.

Visitors cannot tour the factory, but can visit the Lalique Museum where there are 500 pieces on permanent display, with items ranging from René Lalique’s first pieces of jewellery, to intricate perfume bottles, Art Deco pieces by his daughter Suzanne and the celebrated Bacchantes vase, which takes 25 people 30 hours to make.

The details

  • Prices start from 140 euros a night for les Chambres des verriers
  • Château Hochberg, 2 rue du Château Teutsch, Wingen-sur-Moder, 67290, France

Flights from Basel, around two hours’ drive away, to London take just over an hour.

From Wingen-sur-Moder station, a train to Strasbourg takes around 40 minutes. Just an hour’s drive from Strasbourg airport, the new hotel offers the ideal base for a complete Lalique experience – and makes for a great stopover on a mini tour. Christmas markets, anyone?

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