Unique hotel where travelers sleep between two countries.

The Arbez Franco-Suisse is a 2-star, 3-story hotel located in the small town of La Cure, just over 8 km north of Geneva, Switzerland. It's an ideal retreat for travelers, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere thanks to its well-preserved old European architecture.

In the hotel lobby, a dividing line runs across, separating the territories of two countries. This border also runs across a double bed in a room specifically designed for honeymooners. It's often jokingly said: "At the Arbez Hotel, if couples have a fight, they can sleep in two different countries, even though they're sharing the same bed." Therefore, despite being a simple two-star hotel, the Arbez is considered one of the most unique hotels on the planet.

Due to its unique geographical location, tourists' itineraries are often disrupted. Normally, when planning a trip, you would choose your destination first and then book your hotel. But in this mountain village, you can book your accommodation in Arbez and then decide where you want to go on holiday—France or Switzerland?

Since its establishment, this two-star hotel has been a destination for many travelers. They come here for relaxation, honeymoons, or cross-country skiing. Not only the honeymoon suite, but many other rooms in the hotel are also divided by borders. In some rooms, guests can sleep with their feet in one country while their heads are in another. In another room, the bed is in Switzerland, but if you need to use the restroom, you have to cross the border into France to reach it.

Besides experiencing this seemingly unbelievable feeling, staying at the Arbez Hotel also allows guests to interact with two different cultures and traditions in the same stay. In addition to the rooms, the hotel's unique restaurant is split in two, serving dishes from both France and Switzerland.

witnesses of peace

For decades, France and Switzerland have disputed the Dappes Valley, a more than 3-kilometer-long valley located just north of Geneva. This dispute began when Napoleon annexed the area to France in 1802. After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the land was returned to the Swiss, but France still wanted to reclaim it. Ultimately, Switzerland ceded the valley to its neighbor in exchange for some French land to the northeast. On February 20, 1863, when the treaty officially came into effect, this three-story building was also completed, meaning it was unaffected by the new border changes.

The village of Cure itself was originally located on the French border. However, when the border was redrawn, the village fell within the territory of both countries. A local resident named Ponthus decided to open a bar in France and a souvenir shop in Switzerland right in the building. In 1921, Jules-Jean Arbeze bought the building from the Ponthus family heirs, transforming it into a unique multinational hotel and officially renaming it the Arbez Franco-Suisse. Since then, the Arbez Hotel has become an interesting destination attracting travelers and explorers.

It is precisely because of this unique location of the Arbez Franco-Suisse that many anecdotes have occurred there, especially during World War II. At that time, France was occupied by Germany, but Switzerland was neutral. Germany could act freely on French territory but were not allowed to do the same on Swiss soil. Therefore, when arriving at the Arbez Franco-Suisse, the German army could only access the rooms located on French soil. Refugees took advantage of this loophole to hide on the second floor of the hotel. The staircase was also divided in two by the border, with the upper part belonging to Switzerland, so even if the Germans wanted to check, they couldn't.

Furthermore, since both France and Switzerland are members of the Schengen Agreement, simply being a citizen of the EU and Switzerland allows easy travel between the two countries and hotel stays without requiring a visa.

Phuong Anh