Hotel Palafitte – Neuchâtel attractions and bungalow on Lake Neuchâtel

We all know pretty bungalows standing on filigree stilts high above the turquoise water from travel brochures. They can be found on exotic islands such as the Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius. A reflection of what we think of as a “dream holiday”. At least my feet tingle every time and I would like to get up and away. Off to the island. Today there is good news for all those who feel the same way. You don’t have to travel halfway around the world for this holiday feeling. On the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, there are bungalows that can easily compete with the competition in the Indian Ocean.

A hotel on stilts on Lake Neuchâtel

Admittedly, it would still be too cold for me to jump from the terrace into Lake Neuchâtel on this April weekend, despite the bright evening sun. And instead of turquoise, the lake shimmers in dark shades of blue. Instead, we are greeted by a pair of swans that swim past our terrace, chattering curiously. Otherwise, the 24 lakeside pavilions of the Hotel Palafitte, all perched on stilts above the water, convey the feeling we know from the brochures of exotic destinations. Pure holiday feeling. The 5-star Hotel Palafitte was built in 2002 as part of the Swiss National Exhibition. On the one hand, the special architecture takes the regional theme of the pile dwellers. On the other hand, the structures are oriented in such a way that an unobstructed view over Lake Neuchâtel to the top of Mont Blanc is guaranteed from every point. With an area of almost 60^m2, the rooms of the bungalows are spacious and from the terrace you can jump directly into the cool water of Lake Neuchâtel – if the temperatures are right.

Cheers with wine from Neuchâtel

Instead of cooling off in the lake, we toast with a glass of local white wine and enjoy the view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Afterwards we let ourselves be pampered in the restaurant «La Table de Palafitte». It is still too cool for the beautiful terrace located directly on the water. But the balmy summer evenings are not long in coming. Behind the glass front, it is no less cosy. The restaurant is decorated in light colours and pleasantly loosely seated. After cheviche as a starter, followed by an insanely fine asparagus and morel risotto as a main course and a sweet crowning from the dessert cart, we “roll” back into our lake pavilion and fall asleep in no time at all, accompanied by the gentle crash of the waves.

Discover Neuchâtel on foot

The breakfast buffet the next morning leaves nothing to be desired. Cheese lovers and muesli fans alike will get their money’s worth. Today we want to take a look at the old town of Neuchâtel on foot. About a four-minute walk from the hotel is a bus stop line 101, which takes us directly to the centre of Neuchâtel in 10 minutes. I can’t resist the charm of the narrow streets of the old town despite the gloomy weather and the dark threatening rain clouds. But there is also a lot to see. Cheeky street art works, stately building facades, brightly painted fountains, small shops with local delicacies and doorways reminiscent of “traboules“.

The detour up to the castle is a must on a walk through the old town of Neuchâtel. The few steps are worth it and afterwards we treat ourselves to a crêpe in the Crêperie du Château opposite the Fontaine du Banneret. Neuchâtel is a lively city and the French flair is undeniably palpable. If you still have enough breath left after a walk through the old town, you can walk along the riverside path back to the Palafitte.

What to do in case of rainy weather at Hotel Palafitte?

In rainy weather, you can either retreat to the lake pavilion and watch the raindrops hit the rough lake surface through the window. This has meditative effects. Or go on a museum tour. The Centre Dürrenmatt, created by star architect Mario Botta, above the train station next to the botanical garden, is worth seeing. Right next to the Hotel Palafitte is the largest museum of archaeology in Switzerland. In the Laténium, time travel through thousands of years can be visually experienced. Lovers of modern art will get their money’s worth at the CAN.

For a cozy coffee chat, I recommend the CofteArt on the Rue du Seyon. A casual coffee/tea shop in the old town. And of course, Neuchâtel also has its sweet figurehead. Confiserie Wodey Suchard laid the foundation for its global success story in the old town.

Tips about the Hotel Palafitte and Neuchâtel

• Overnight stay in the lake pavilion incl. breakfast from around 600 CHF for two people (price depends on the season)
• Every Sunday from 12:30 p.m. a brunch is served at the Hotel Palafitte (cost 82 CHF per person)
• For a romantic weekend for two, Palafitte offers various packages
• In the city centre, you can take yourself back in time to Louis XVI at the Hôtel DuPeyrou restaurant. The food is fine. The service, on the other hand, did not convince us 100%
• When the weather is nice, take a trip to the local mountain Chaumont. The funicular runs up from le Coudre every half hour
• Ventilate your head and breathe in healthy forest air? The hike through the Areuse Gorge southeast of Neuchâtel is ideal for this.

Note: We were invited to this stay by the Hotel Palafitte. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.