Meilenstein’s golden presence just south of the small town of Langenthal in canton Luzern already makes a big impression even before guests enter the property.  Despite its seemingly isolated location, the fact that Meilenstein exists is reason enough to venture off the beaten tourist path away from more crowded areas in Switzerland and explore the beautiful countryside, preferably in the shiny yellow Ferrari Meilenstein makes available for hire by in-house guests.  Indeed, Meilenstein’s quiet location is a big draw for business and leisure overnight guests seeking serene surroundings amid the greenery of the northern hemisphere summer.  The hotel’s tranquil setting and appealing facilities make it popular for meetings and corporate functions, plus the occasional grand social event; it is not only the Ferrari launched at Meilenstein.

the Aquarium Bar at Meilenstein

Meilenstein, a milestone in English, is more than just a hotel.  How many hotel Reception areas share the floor with a luxury car dealership?  Car dealership, Formula 1 museum, aquarium, bowling alley, bar, steakhouse, and guestrooms all rolled into one diverse, interconnected complex, Meilenstein’s owner takes great pride in the excellence he has created.  Youthful general manager Philipp Schäublin is a debonair presence overseeing every aspect of Meilenstein’s operations with polished professionalism, a characteristic shared with the rest of the hotel’s helpful staff.  The 60 Business rooms on lower floors are supplemented by 25 Premium rooms with private terraces on the top (fourth) floor, where several cars are parked in the lift lobby.  How they got, there is a mystery that remains to be solved.

riding lesson at Meilenstein’s equestrian centre

The dream hotel of any automobile aficionado, Meilenstein, is all about cars.  Expensive cars.  The Formula 1 museum is no small corner tucked away off to the side; it is a full-fledged museum exhibiting a synopsis of the racing genre presented in collaboration with Swiss F1 driver Jo Vonlanthen.  Complementing the racing machines is a collection of exceptional automobiles, including Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris, and many others.  The unique construction of the hotel’s corridors allows guests to see into the museum and car collection while walking to and from their rooms.  The casual visitor will appreciate the immense dedication to the care of the collection as much as the motor enthusiast; all the cars on display, some of which are for sale, are looked after with meticulous attention.  As for the Ferrari 488 Spyder available for hire, turn an exhilarating ride into an accelerating ride with a touch of the Launch button and find out what a lot of horsepower can do.

Meilenstein’s cool ride

Not that automobiles are the only attractions at Meilenstein.  The enormous water wall, 42 metres long and full of fascinating sea creatures, is the defining feature of the Aquarium Bar, an ideal place for drinks before or after dinner in The Meat, the hotel’s steakhouse where top-quality Swiss beef is served paired with similarly superb Swiss wines, virtually unknown outside the country because the Swiss keep it all for themselves.  The open-air Sky Bar is an excellent place for summer sundowners on the hotel’s rooftop.  Families especially enjoy Meilenstein’s adjacent bowling alley; some families stay for weeks to allow their children to take riding lessons at Meilenstein’s state-of-the-art equestrian facility a few kilometres from the hotel.

This being Switzerland, whether travelling by car or by train, Meilenstein is, in reality, not all that far away from major cities like Zurich, Luzern, Olten, and Bern, thanks to the country’s extensive road and rail networks.  If travelling by train, it helps to have a Swiss Travel Pass from Rail Europe to get around; the network extends to smaller villages like Langenthal and provides useful benefits in addition to rail travel—First Class on the train, First Class behind the wheel.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Traveller Deluxe

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