Last year I was fortunate enough to visit Villa Honegg, a boutique hotel in Switzerland, and it was the perfect luxury retreat to embark upon to get some much-needed inspiration for my work.
The hotel itself is perched 914m above sea level, giving it panoramic mountain views as well as easy access to hilltop hiking; we were even greeted by a rainbow across the valley upon our arrival.
Taking inspiration from nature
One of the things I consistently take the most inspiration from in my creative practice is the natural world around me, and it was amazing to be surrounded by such breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding peaks.
The room offered an alpine view of the surrounding forest, and we saw the colours of the leaves change from woody greens to deep Autumn russet browns during the course of our stay – incredible.
When you hear of a luxury retreat it’s easy to picture somewhere commercialised and cut off from nature, but not so with Villa Honegg. The backdrop to our stay was the sound of gentle cow-bells from the herd of cattle in the adjoining field, and when we ventured out to meet them we found the kitchen gardens and the hotel’s beehives where their honey is produced.
It was so refreshing to be somewhere with such a commitment to excellence whilst maintaining a real link to the local area – seen most clearly in the fantastic food they serve.
A home-grown dining experience
Amongst the beautiful presentation and balanced flavours, the thing that stood out most about the food at Villa Honegg was how their menu is crafted to showcase foods from the local area.
The restaurant menu changes with the seasons, using local ingredients to support farmers and producers nearby, giving us a real insight into the culinary traditions of central Switzerland.
We paired Sbrinz cheese with the honey made by the hotel’s own bees, sampled local mountain cranberry alongside our venison mille-feuille, and enjoyed trying pizokel for the first time – almost like a cross between pasta and a dumpling, made with buckwheat.
It goes without saying that the food we enjoyed on our luxury retreat tasted beautiful – in fact, the restaurant has been awarded 14 Gault-Millau points to show for it. And looking at these photos you don’t need me to tell you how creatively it was presented either, some of it in front of our eyes at the table.
Slow down and be refreshed
Being self-employed, I often find it hard to slow down; there’s always more that could be done, and even when I’m not working my mind is still buzzing with ideas and things to do.
So one of the things I loved most about Villa Honegg’s luxury retreat was the opportunity to truly relax, the pinnacle of this being their unbelievable outdoor pool.
It’s not often you get to watch the clouds roll down a mountainside and onto a lake from an infinity pool, with a herbal tea in your hand and a sauna waiting to welcome you when you eventually head inside.
It’s easy to underestimate the value of rest, especially for those of us working in creative fields, but it’s so key to take time out so that we can carry on producing pieces which communicate what’s important to us.
The luxury retreat of a lifetime
Our stay at Villa Honegg was truly the trip of a lifetime, and it was worth savouring every moment. I left feeling inspired to create, drawing on the landscapes and commitment to local businesses that I’d been surrounded by. I’ve become worryingly accustomed to fine cuisine and regularly swimming in an infinity pool, and am now having to manage my expectations for all future holidays.
This trip was a gifted stay in partnership with Hotel Villa Honegg. Images by Philip Scott Photography.
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