Paru le 03/04/2002 | Relié 144 pages
Tout public
photographies Jérôme Da Cunha
Over nearly two centuries, the Baur au Lac in Zurich, one of the world's most luxurious hotels, has been a privileged witness to the birth of the modern world. In this fascinating and delightful history, author Jean des Cars brings the past alive. The hotel has been in the hands of the same family - the Baurs, later by marriage the Krachts-since it was founded in 1844. In the corridors of the Baur au Lac, kings and generals have rubbed shoulders with great composers, artists, and screen goddesses, from Ludwig II of Bavaria, Richard Wagner, and Thomas Mann, to Gina Lollobrigida and Jayne Mansfield. Yet Jean des Cars does not forget the fascinating story of life behind the scenes in any luxury hotel, nor the anonymous guests who have also occasionnally made their mark in the history of the Baur au Lac. Charming anecdotes about generations of wealthy and eccentric clients rival with the history of moments of great portent when the hotel stood at the centre of the world stage.
Today, the Baur au Lac's name is synonymous with elegance refinement, and the ultimate in luxury. This beautifully illustrated book pays homage to a magnificent hotel, and above all to the six generations of the dynasty who have kept the flame of Swiss hospitality alive.
Jean des Cars was born in Paris. He is a historian, and is well-known as a guest lecturer for themed holidays. He has written authoritative biographies on Ludwig II of Bavaria, Elizabeth of Austria, the Empress Eugénie, and Grace Kelly, which have been translated into several languages. With the photographer Jérôme da Cunha, he has also authored a number of beautifully illustrated tourist guides on historical themes such as the castles of Ludwig II, a voyage in the footsteps of Mozart, and Saint Petersburg at the time of the Czars. Another of his interests is the history of travel, and he is also the author of histories of the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Railway.
For his research on the history of the Baur au Lac, he was uniquely granted access to the hotel's abundant archives. Memories of a Palace is not only a study of life in one of the world's great hotels, but also the fascinating story of six generations of a hotel dynasty.
