Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras

Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras
Hotel chain Kempinski Hotels S.A.
General information
Location Kúpeľná 6,Štrbské Pleso, High Tatras, Slovakia
Coordinates 49°7′9.2706″N 20°3′31.9828″E / 49.119241833°N 20.058884111°E / 49.119241833; 20.058884111
Opening May, 2009
Other information
Number of rooms 98
Number of restaurants 1
Number of bars 2
Website
www.kempinski.com/hightatras
View of the hotel from Štrbské pleso

The Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras is a five-star hotel operated by Kempinski Hotels S.A. located on the shores of Štrbské pleso (Tschirmer See) in High Tatras, Slovakia.

The hotel was officially opened in May 2009 after EUR 42 million [1] reconstruction of former spa house complex Hviezdoslav.
Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras offers 98 rooms and suites (including Presidential and Honeymoon suite). It also offers Spa & Wellness services.

Location

The hotel is located in the immediate proximity of the alpine lake Štrbské pleso, which is situated at an elevation of 1,351 metres (4432 feet) above sea level.

History

The current Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras consists of three interlinked historical buildings built over a period of 34 years, one next to another, on the Štrbské Pleso moraine: Jánošík (1893), Kriváň (1906) and Hviezdoslav (1923). They are distinguished by their varied architectural forms, which range from historicist design to the modern style of the 1920s. Together, they give the impression of picturesque and quaint construction, with various roof shapes that contribute to the panorama of the surrounding Tatras peaks.

The oldest building, dating back to 1893 is Jánošík. Originally, Jozef Szentiványi had it built for his own needs and named it Jozef's villa. The romantic small villa, decorated with paintings and engravings on its facades and with richly furnished interiors, was visited by the highest levels of the aristocracy. Guests included several family members of the House of Habsburg and the House of Coburg, the King of Serbia - Milan and others.

After the creation and foundation of Czechoslovakia, the villa was given the name Jánošík, after the Slovak's national hero.

Over the time, other buildings have been connected to the original building, including Kriváň (completed in 1906) and Hviezdoslav (completed in 1923).

Kriváň ranked among the three grand hotels of the Tatras at the time of its creation. The project was developed by the renowned architect Guido Hoepfner in cooperation with Géza Györgyi in the era of Belle Époque, an era dominated by the Secession style and thus the hotel, including all the furnishings, was designed in this style. The hotel also included spas. Archduke Charles Stephen and his family were among the first guests of the grand hotel; he was astonished in particular at the hotel hall and restaurant. After the foundation of Czechoslovakia, the hotel was renamed Kriváň, after the Slovaks' national peak.

Grand Hotel Hviezdoslav was opened in 1923 and bears the name of the greatest Slovak poet. The interior furnishings of the hotel were designed by prominent designers of the unique style known as Rondo-Cubism, the Czechoslovak national style at that time.

Before the FIS World Cup IN 1935, the old tourist restaurant was replaced by a new French style dining room and bar, which according to the contemporary critics was without equal in all the Tatras.

Starting in 1953, the hotel complex was used as a sanatorium before gradually falling into disrepair and finally, because of its poor condition, being closed.

Reconstruction of the complex in 2003 - 2007

In 2003, architect Peter Černo prepared a new study of the reconstruction and building of the former treatment house Hviezdoslav. The aim of the project was to transform the historically protected old buildings (from a central list of registered monuments in 1963) into a luxurious five-star hotel that met the expectations and requirements of the future operator - Kempinski. When modifying the exterior, this ambition was to be as close to the original historic appearance as possible. During the preparations, he sought archival materials, historical photos and other documents, all of which were used during the reconstruction.

The renewal of the hotel was an extremely difficult process and took more than four years from start to finish. The complex is located in the Tatra National Park, under the strictest degrees of protection. It is also a Grade II listed building, making it a national monument.

Gallery

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.stavebne-forum.sk/sk/article/13758/grand-hotel-kempinski-is-to-by-open-at-strbske-pleso/
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