Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois (Hotel of the Three Kings) in Basel, until 1986 usually identified by its German-language name, Hotel Drei Könige, is often cited as one of Switzerland's oldest hotels.[1] It is located on the left bank of the Rhine, a few paces downstream of the city's first bridge across the river.[2]
Early history
Before the railways were built, the Rhine was the most important trade artery in western Europe, and Basel was the principal terminal point at its southern end. Beside the transshipment jetties where merchandise was off-loaded from the boats on the northeast bank of the river, there was already a guest house, identified in 1255 as "domus zem blumen in vico crucis" "(House of Flowers at the cross street)", which was probably a decade or so after the ferry crossings of the river were complemented at this point by a road bridge.[1] However, the guest house and adjacent buildings had to be demolished after the 1356 earthquake.[1]