End of an era for once popular Luxembourg hotel

A once popular hotel in the Mullerthal region has reached the end of an era as it is to be demolished to make way for housing.

The Parc Hotel, in Berdorf, has seen plenty of history since it was first constructed in 1937. From WWII shoot outs between the Wehrmacht and the Allies to earning three Michelin stars in the hotel guide book, the building has had its share of success and drama.

The hotel's last owner and manager Corneille Schwenninger inherited the business from his father, though it was his grandfather who laid the foundations for a career in the hotel trade. He worked in hotels in London before working as a cook at a hotel in the US. After earning some money he returned to Luxembourg to start a family and buy land to one day build a hotel.

Sadly, his grandfather did not live long enough to see the hotel completed, he died in 1934 a year before the project began.

An electrical engineer, Corneille's father did much of the construction work and, following its opening, the hotel flourished. The success was short-lived, however. It took some German factory workers during the war but then the village was evacuated in 1944 because of intense fighting between the Wehrmacht and Allies, and the hotel became dormant.

It was also the scene of a shoot out between forces after which US soldiers occupied the hotel building until the end of the war. By that point, the Parc Hotel was covered in bullet holes. Several months of renovations followed, more rooms were built and in 1958 the business was further extended to incorporate 40 guest rooms.

Corneille took over the hotel in 1963 but when later on business did not take off, he began a second career making ceramics. Further renovations followed to include a swimming pool, and thanks to the work force of well-qualified staff, the hotel was awarded three stars in the Michelin guide.

But, nothing lasts forever, and the owner says that the “golden days” are over now.

His children did not wish to take over the business and in 1999 the building was closed up for good. It is to be demolished within the coming year to make way for its next incarnation as a modern housing estate.