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International Art Treasures Web Magazine November 2005 |
Zurich's Luxurious Storchen
One of the greatest hotels in the world is located on the banks of the Limmat River in Zurich . The Hotel zum Storchen has a history dating back 600 years and has been the host to Richard Wagner, Gottfried Keller and royalty with a visit from King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.
In earlier days before PR campaigns and mass marketing the way to attract custom to one's Inn was to actually go out into the street and seek businessmen to stay. One of the earliest innkeepers of the Storchen, Hans Has, appeared to have a deft hand for this trade. He did so well that his closest rival the Inn Keeper of the Sword Inn (Zum Schwert) accused him of stealing guests on their way which was punishable by a fine.
Affairs of state require meeting places and rooms for the dignitaries and in 1707 the Storchen hosted one such meeting. The city of Zurich wanted to be involved in the lucrative trade routes that had opened with the discovery of the New World. To do so they needed to cultivate the leaders who controlled the Grison passes a key component of the trade route. It was too the Storchen that the representatives of the three Grison states came for the key meeting in Zurich's past.
Hotel zum Storchen is found on the Weinplatz.
It is minutes from some of Zurich's most famous attractions. including the Bahnhofstrasse for shopping and art with among other treasures the magnificent Marc Chagall stained glass windows in the Fraumünster.
During the summer the Terrace opens and this is where breakfast is served making it possible to enjoy a delicious meal while overlooking the Limmat River with the breathtaking Alps in the background. Heavenly!
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