Hôtel Le Corbusier

A real treat. The free access to floors 3 and 4 and the rooftop terrace offers a wonderful glimpse into this architectural and social experiment, all in one. Definitely worth visiting.

The building’s history is worth seeing, but I’d only stay one night if you have to. Otherwise, find a welcoming place in the town centre and avoid this hotel. The manager’s strict rules and unpleasant way with children made it feel inflexible and inhospitable, like Miss Trunchbull’s school in Matilda. She told me to clear our breakfast things on a tray. At almost £200 a night, I’m on holiday and expect a break from tidying up. She also demanded that my five-year-old say good morning. When he shrank away and refused, she told him he wasn’t interesting to her and that she’d ignore him from then on. If someone had shoved their face in mine and demanded a greeting, I wouldn’t have said hello either. The approach to food and ordering felt penny-pinching and rigid. Nothing was particularly nice, and you avoided eating because it meant being locked into a €60 three-course dinner menu. They made you pay for everything in advance, with no refund if you changed your mind, such as deciding not to have breakfast.

This is more than a hotel, it’s a piece of history, like a little capsule that takes you back in time. Anyone who loves architecture should enjoy the building, and the staff working there are passionate about it.

I can confirm there’s a minimum €20 charge at the bar, despite the owner denying it in comments elsewhere. I stopped in for a glass of wine after visiting the Corbusier, but ended up essentially held captive for three glasses. I was served two different reds, and neither was that good. I highly recommend the Corbusier, but not the bar. I’d considered staying at the hotel before, but after this experience and reading the comments, I’ll pass.