The Prix Versailles, the annual architectural award that celebrates outstanding design in hospitality, transport, and public spaces, has released its 2026 list of the world's most beautiful hotels. Of the sixteen properties selected globally, seven are located across Europe, from the Czech capital to the French Riviera.
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, said the chosen hotels “embrace a lifestyle based on enchantment and innovation, and fit perfectly into their local scene.” He added that they “provide a bright outlook and, in their own way, establish a welcome dialogue in today’s world of cultural globalisation.”
The European winners
Sir Prague – Prague, Czech Republic
Housed in a neo-renaissance building dating from 1884 near the Vltava River, Sir Prague underwent a meticulous restoration that preserved original stone façades, iron railings, and timber parquet floors. The interiors draw on Czech Cubism, with vintage furniture that reinterprets the country’s early 20th-century design heritage.
Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat – Übersee, Germany
Overlooking Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria, this retreat was designed by Matteo Thun’s Milan-based studio. The architecture takes cues from regional barns, while interiors blend natural materials with Japanese influences. The Prix Versailles noted its fusion of “Bavarian heritage, modern hospitality, and a life in harmony with nature.”
La Fondation – Paris, France
In the 17th arrondissement, La Fondation was reimagined by PCA-Stream. The design preserves the building’s original layout and materials while introducing green walls, terraces, patios, and hanging gardens. The award described it as “a role model for quiet luxury off the beaten trail.”
Les Roches – Le Lavandou, France
Originally built in the 1930s, this seaside resort on the French Riviera is designed to evoke a ship floating on water. Contemporary artworks throughout the property have turned it into “its own little museum,” according to the Prix Versailles.
Villa Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik, Croatia
Set within a protected heritage building originally designed by Croatian architect Mladen Frka in 1961, Villa Dubrovnik’s interiors were reworked by Studio Arthur Casas. Materials such as limestone, stucco, cotto, and oak create a natural colour palette that respects the original modernist vision.
Orient Express La Minerva – Rome, Italy
Housed in a 17th-century palazzo in central Rome, this hotel was one of the year’s most anticipated openings. Architect Hugo Toro drew inspiration from the world’s great railway lines for the décor. The Prix Versailles called it “the epitome of timeless, understated luxury.”
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel – Portofino, Italy
After 18 months of restoration, the Belmond property reopened earlier this year. Set in a former 16th-century Benedictine monastery, the redesign by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio was praised as “the perfect blend of Ligurian heritage and contemporary elegance.”
For travellers seeking design-forward stays, these seven hotels offer a curated tour of Europe’s architectural diversity—from Cubist Prague to Baroque Rome, and from Bavarian lakes to the Dalmatian coast. The full list of global winners is available on the Prix Versailles website.
