Hôtel des Horlogers
Architecture-forward eco-luxury. Spare but warm — raw regional materials, big floor-to-ceiling windows, and serious quiet. The vibe sits closer to a design museum than a resort, with watchmaking culture woven through every detail.
Book La Table des Horlogers well in advance — it's only open Tuesday to Saturday and fills quickly given its Michelin chef pedigree
Why It Matters
The architecture alone is the draw. BIG (also responsible for the neighboring Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet spiral) designed the hotel so every single room faces the Risoud Forest — achieved by stacking five angled zigzagging volumes instead of building a conventional block. The building won the World Architecture Festival 2018 'Leisure Led Developments – Future Projects' award. Add a three-Michelin-starred chef (Emmanuel Renaut) running both restaurants and Minergie-ECO certification, and there's genuine substance behind the concept.
Owned by luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet and designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Hôtel des Horlogers opened in June 2022 on the site of a predecessor inn dating to 1857. The building's signature zigzag form — five tilting slabs that descend toward the Vallée de Joux meadows — takes its cue from watchmaking heritage without resorting to clichés. Inside, local spruce, stone and smooth concrete set the tone; bleached-white trees appear to grow from the lobby ceiling in a direct nod to the adjacent Risoud Forest. Certified Minergie-ECO, the hotel runs a tight sustainability operation: over 70% of ingredients in its two restaurants come from local producers, and amenity products are Swiss-made Alpeor.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Forest Suite
46 sqm with double windows delivering exceptional forest panoramas. Elegance and sophistication are the hotel's own words, and for once they're warranted — the Forest Suite includes a separate office, dressing room, large sofa bed, and minibar/wine cellar. The Alpeor bath salts are scented with local Vallée de Joux white fir trees. A properly complete suite package.
King 200x200cm or Twin 100x200cm · 46 sqm
Junior Suite
38 sqm with a full living room space and views of the Orbe river winding through the valley. Contemporary design furniture, a large office area, and Alpeor eco amenities with bathrobes. The king bed option comes in at 200x200cm — a meaningful upgrade from the lower categories. One reviewer noted the separate living area with a rotatable flat-screen TV as a standout feature.
King 200x200cm or Twin 100x200cm · 38 sqmSignature Suite
The hotel's top category at 60 sqm. Only two of these exist in the property. The Signature Suite comprises a separate bedroom, dining room, and living room — wood finishes create warmth throughout, and daylight fills every space from its panoramic windows. Booking this suite also unlocks access to Saturday morning French-language tours of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet next door. Packages from CHF 1,000.
King 200x200cm or Twin 100x200cm · 60 sqm
Superior Room
At 32 sqm, the Superior Room adds a clerestory window that floods the room with natural light and pushes the forest views into a different register. Contemporary designer furnishings throughout, the hotel's 'Timeless Design' bed, Alpeor amenities, fluffy bathrobes and in-ceiling speakers. A solid step up from the Valley room without paying suite prices.
King 180x200cm or Twin 90x200cm · 32 sqm
Valley Guest Room
The entry-level room still delivers on the hotel's core promise: floor-to-ceiling views of the Orbe river, its plains, and the Risoud Forest. Compact at 28 sqm, but sleek and refined. A large smart TV with content-sharing capability, Nespresso machine, minibar, and Alpeor bathroom amenities. In-ceiling speakers included. The room where the architecture does the heavy lifting.
King 180x200cm or Twin 90x200cm · 28 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
220 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails in the Vallée de Joux. Ski rental available directly at the hotel.
Half-day or full-day electric bike tours (25km/h bikes) through the Vallée de Joux with a picnic featuring local flavors. Also available as Sports Lovers package (1 night for 2 with breakfast, from CHF 430).
Independent exploration of the Risoud forest refuges by bike. Includes bike rental.
Visit the Espace Horloger in nearby Le Sentier for an introduction to the world of fine watchmaking and its professions. Available as part of the Watch Lovers package (1 night for 2 with breakfast, from CHF 430).
The first watchmaking initiation center in the Vallée de Joux. Hands-on introduction to haute horlogerie crafts. By reservation only.
In-hotel fitness room open 24 hours a day.
Year-round indoor golf at Golf Indoor La Vallée, open to amateurs and professionals alike. No weather constraints.
Private tennis lessons with resident instructor Anthony, available year-round for all levels.
Tailor-made picnic organized by the hotel team, featuring local Vallée de Joux flavors.
Open-access trail around the resonance wood (bois de résonance), used to make soundboards for musical instruments — one of the Vallée de Joux's natural treasures.
Guided snowshoe excursions into the Risoud Forest. Available as part of the Nature Lovers package (1 night for 2 with breakfast and snowshoe rental). Price on request standalone.
A guided walk tracing 4.6 billion years of Earth history through the natural landscape, from the arrival of water to the extinction of the ammonites and dinosaurs. Price on request.
Summer water skiing, buoyancy and wakeboarding at Le Rocheray with Ski Nautique et Wakeboard du Lac de Joux.
Guided tour of the Risoud Forest following the clandestine wartime routes used by those who helped people cross the border during World War II. Price on request.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Salle Clous de Paris and Salle Côtes de Genève — both equipped with state-of-the-art technology and bathed in natural daylight. Available for seminars, teambuilding and events.
A raised seating area in the lobby housing a curated library of books dedicated to the history of watchmaking and the Vallée de Joux.
Outdoor terrace and indigenous plant gardens. The building has a vegetated green roof contributing to local biodiversity.
Pets are allowed at the property. Charges may apply.
Gift vouchers available via the hotel's official e-commerce partner.
Cross-country ski rental available directly at the hotel.
Transfers offered in comfort with experienced hotel drivers. Arrange via welcome@hdh.swiss.
Sauna, hammam, sensory shower, relaxation area, and two treatment cabins. Using Swiss Alpeor products.
Open 24 hours a day. Part of the spa complex.
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