The iconic Baur au Lac, one of Europe’s few grand hotels owned by the same family since its inception, is celebrating its 175th anniversary with two brand-new special packages.

Opened in 1844 by Johannes Baur as a lakeside resort away from the “bustle of the city,” the Baur au Lac has been owned by the same family for six generations and has consistently maintained a reputation as one of the leading luxury hotels in the world. Originally intended as an escape for Europe’s aristocracy, the Baur au Lac was the first hotel built directly on the banks of Lake Zürich. Despite its tranquil location, the Baur au Lac was strategically built near the city’s top attractions: the opera house, theaters, museums, the main train station and Zürich’s old town. As the 19th century progressed, the Baur au Lac cemented its place at the pinnacle of international grand hotels and as a leading example of luxury hospitality.

The Baur au Lac’s historic lobby, ‘Le Hall’

It was in the hotel’s lobby lounge, “Le Hall,” that Bertha von Suttner convinced industrial magnate Alfred Nobel of the need for a world peace prize. Marc Chagall sketched his glass paintings for Zürich’s Fraumünster Church while staying as a guest of the hotel. And it was here that Franz Liszt accompanied his son-in-law, Richard Wagner, on the piano for the world premiere of Die Walküre. The Baur au Lac has welcomed the likes of Kaiser Wilhelm II, General Ulysses Grant, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Henry Kissinger, Queen Elizabeth II and more.

Created in celebration of its 175-year anniversary, the Baur au Lac has created two unique packages. The Wagner Package, recalling Richard Wagner’s premiere of Die Walküre, includes two nights at the hotel, tickets to the Tannhäuser opera at Zürich’s Opera House, as well daily breakfast buffet and a five-course dinner at the Baur au Lac’s two-Michelin-starred Pavillon restaurant. In addition, guests will receive a complimentary 72-hour Zürich Card in order to explore the city.

Guests can also book The Jubiläums Package, which consists of one night’s accommodations in a junior suite, a private historic tour of Zürich, a Champagne aperitif and a five-course dinner at the Pavillon restaurant. Guests will also receive chocolates from the Baur au Lac’s house-made “1844 Chocolat Baur au Lac” line, along with the book, Memories of a Palace, which explores the rich history of the Baur au Lac.

Pricing for The Wagner Package starts at CHF 4,345 (approx. US$4,375) per room; pricing for The Jubiläums Package starts at CHF 1,844 (approx. US$1,860) per room.

Baur au Lac, www.bauraulac.ch