Lánchíd 19, providing a beautiful view on UNESCO World Heritage sites of Budapest, is situated on the Danube riverbank, Budapest. Its innovative architectural and interior design enabled Lánchíd 19 to receive several Hungarian and international recognitions during its first two years.

- 2007 Hungarian Design Awards (for the interactive façade)
- 2007 Hungarian Design Awards (for the graphic visuals of the hotel)
- 2007 Budapest Architectural Prize
- 2008 Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List- the best 65 new hotels of the world
- 2008 Wallpaper and Fortune magazines’ Best 50 Business Hotels
- 2008 The European Hotel Design Awards – Best Architecture/Newbuild
- 2008 Hungarian Construction Industry Award
- 2008 Best of Budapest Award

The hotel’s architectural and creative concept is based on the hotel’s relation with its direct neighbourhood, conversation with the past and the active participation of guests. The hotel’s moveable accordion-like glass façade is an autonomous artwork. It provides unique pictures in the night, so the hotel stands as a kind of ‘lighthouse’ on the Danube riverbank. The movement of the glass lamellas that are painted with tiny graphics generally follows the flow speed of the Danube, but based on the signals of the meteo-sensor on the top of the hotel, the movement intensifies in strong wind and smoothes when the wind stops. In the basement medieval walls and remains of a water-tower were excavated and renovated during the construction works. The water-tower was part of the system providing water to the Buda Royal Castle. The archaeological remains are visible from the lobby through glass flooring, serving as a section room for smaller events, e.g. wine tasting, exhibitions.

The hotel’s creative concept was made up by many young artists of different fields (e.g. graphic designers, photographers, fashion designers). This resulted in all the 45 rooms and 3 suites having an individual look. The walls feature the creative stories inspired by the modern chairs of well-known designers in the rooms, as if the recollections, fantasies and understandings of the guests entering the rooms were projected on the walls. Some of the rooms invite for a creative play, thus guests have a weekly wardrobe to dress an Erwan&Ronan Bouroullec chair, a George G. Sowden chair to watch a movie with, Philippe Starck’s Louis & Victoria Ghost to have a dance lesson with. Guests may also find themselves in a wedding ceremony, where a white Panton chair is the bride. Staff uniform is not a confectionery there, the group elected this year’s Fashion Designer of Hungary made up the collection harmonizing with the hotel’s milieu.

* * *
Lánchíd 19 offers 45 rooms and 3 suites, all of them with a view at the UNESCO World Heritage sites Pest riverbank or the Buda Royal Castle. The hotel is located directly on the Danube riverbank, a hundred meters from the Budapest-symbol Lánchíd (“Chain Bridge”). Budapest City centre is within a further hundred meters, the Castle is a ten-minute walk to the top of the Castle hill which emerges literally from the backyard of Lánchíd 19. Each room provides free internet access, a flat, internet-able TV set featuring international channels, air-conditioning, minibar, safe deposit and phone as basic room fittings. The specially designed suites offer large panorama terraces. Lánchíd 19 accommodates three conference rooms with a combined capacity of 100 participants and L19 restaurant&bar.

To find out more about Lánchíd 19 and check availability click here.

If you are looking for a place to visit for New Year, then Europe is a great place to do so. The thing here is that Europe is not only organizing various holiday celebration festivals, but also here is a place where the first month of the year 2010 promises to be very attractive and will not leave any reason for getting bored.

Here we will introduce you the top 6 places where you can organize both deserved and desired holiday.

1. Musical Concerts in Budapest, Hungary

The Hungarian capital is going to extraordinary pomp as well as Hungarians are doing their best to make the proper spirit for the royal festivities to celebrate the New Year.  This year on the last day of 2009, December 31 at the Budapest Opera House will be a concert of music by Johann Strauss performed by the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. The musician were preparing for the concert for almost a half year, so the impressions are guaranteed. If looking for a place to have a luxurious dinner with your beloved you might like the option of the famous restaurant “Gyundel”, where the chic awaits you, served in a box dinner starting from 80 and going up to 363 euros. The day before the grandiose celebration the Convention Center will be introducing a spectacular concert of 100 gypsy violins. For those who consider themselves to be religious on Jan. 3 in the Church of St. Matthias on the Buda hills you can enjoy New Year’s Mass with hymns. Another interesting fact about this awesome country is that the hotels cost here not that expensive so you don’t need to worry about the money-savings.

2. Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany

In addition to the popular art place of  Ludwig Museum which is introducing a collection of  one of the most beautiful expanse  of contemporary art in Europe, in Cologne, you can visit … Schokoladenmuseum – the museum of chocolate, and it is worthy to visit especially for those who like the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The programme of the visit: the fountain with a hot liquid chocolate, with jets, which rise up to three-meter height. You’re even allowed to have a try! All of this sounds so good that it seems almost irresistible to avoid.
In Cologne, it is just pleasant to wander through the ordinary streets, where there are no annoying machines as they are not noisy and disturbing. The main hint here is the fact that you don’t need to pay too much of money to stay in the hotel right in the middle of the city, as there are a lot of more interesting hotels with nicer views and with a cheaper prices.

3. London sales, United Kingdom

They start on the next day after Christmas and last until 31 January- feels like one of the gorgeous deals for a whole month. It’s so interesting that the sales raise day by day and for the past two weeks they get up to 80%, particularly at the Regent Street or Oxford Street! In the same spirit and luxury hotels are: lower prices which make them more affordable for those who are planning to spend their European trip visiting UK. If the plan is not about money-saving, then you can try choosing through the range of expensive hotels, which become available with lower prices.

4.Silence and bliss in Mont-Royal, France

Those who are looking for relaxation and quiet time not far from the capital of the lovers, then we recommend Tiara Château Hotel Mont-Royal, which is only 30 minutes from Paris, near Chantilly. This small rural hotel is nothing like a former house for hunting dogs of a French baron of the Renaissance period. The former library which is now turned into a lounge bar will have a special celebration on the day of St. Sylvester (i.e.31 December) which will last for 22 hours. During the party the guests will be served a festive dinner with a special French champagne (199 euros per person, including a stay in a room on the top floor and breakfast).
The hotel has an indoor heated swimming pool, playground for a game of squash. In the woods nearby you can a walk or ride a bicycle if you want, so that the New Year you will meet with a proper exercising.

5.Music  Year in Warsaw, Poland

All 2010 in Poland will be held under the patronage of the bicentennial of the birth of Frederic Chopin, with a rather extensive program of various musical concerts and competitions. 7 January is going to be the starting day of the festivities in Warsaw, where Chopin’s heart is stored. And all of this will start with a concert at the Philharmonic House.
The Polish capital is an extraordinary place due to all of its pleasant scenes and spots to visit. The old quarters of the city were rebuilt after the Second World War and they were given their initial appearance and all of this looks simply charming.  One of the best places to stay in the hotel “Victoria” which is right the middle of the oldest and newest parts of the city, serving as a connecting chain for those parts and having details of both.

6. Relaxing Spa in Abano, Italy

Abano, an Italian thermal resort, which is known since the Roman times for the healing properties of local water, is located near the town of Padua.  Here the main treasure is not the five star hotel with all of equipments but rather a thermal spa. In an atmosphere worthy of the Visconti, thermal establishments offer a variety of Christmas programs, acting in the first week of January, it might sound a little bit weird but it’s true. The most intensive program combines both the cultural elements and physical procedures. If you still consider yourself not satisfied then you better also visit Verona, which not far away from here. One of the main reasons can serve the fact that here is now a fashionable exhibition: a collection of 400 creches, brought from all over the world, are being presented in the magnificent scenery of the Roman arenas.