Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Romantik Hotel de l'Ours

As I stepped off the boat from Lake Murten, I was over-whelmed with the fragrant smell of wisteria and the beauty of the tiny and charming Sugiez wine region. The white swans glided by in the calm waters and the vineyards beckoned in the distance. I was visiting the area in early May and spring had officially arrived.

I had lunch on the patio of the Romantik Hotel de l’Ours as the wisteria flowers floated and swirled like tiny whirlpools around my feet. The Swiss have certainly nailed the quaint village concept, along with fine dining and cozy lodging. While I didn’t overnight at the hotel, I visited three of the eight rooms offered at this family-run hotel. Each of the rooms is unique, yet they all rent for $150 Euro per night, including breakfast and the use of the indoor pool. Families or individuals sharing a room will want to select room #7, as an additional bed is easily added to the large room. Couples might prefer room #8.

Room #8 photo by Nancy D. Brown

Children and adults will like the indoor pool with it’s jacuzzi-like whirl pool area and the feeling of swimming against a gentle current. I thought the placement of a teddy bear on each bed was a nice reminder that you are now in Switzerland; please relax and enjoy yourself.

This elegant, yet down-to-earth hotel is not often frequented by Americans. Frankly, I didn’t understand how it could offer such upscale dining, but I discovered that hikers and bicycle riders come to this area to explore one of Switzerland’s smallest vineyards, “Mount Vully” and enjoy walking on the “Wine Path” in the countryside. A stop at Chateau de Praz, one of many privately owned wine cellars in the region is worth an hour of your time. Owner Christine Chervet prefers to pour their white wines at the cellar, but my personal preferance was the pinot noir wine.

Romantik Hotel de l’Ours +41 (0) 26 673 93 93

Route de l’ Ancien Pont 5

CH – 1786 Sugiez Vully

Photos by Nancy D. Brown