Is This The World’s Most Advanced Wellness Break?
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24 hours ago
Amelia Windsor heads to Chenot Palace Weggis
Ever heard of the Chenot method? Amelia Windsor heads to Switzerland to find out all about the world-leading wellness offering at Chenot Palace Weggis.
Amelia Windsor Spends A Week At Chenot Palace Weggis, Switzerland
A whole week without coffee? That was my first thought when I arrived at Chenot Palace in Weggis, Switzerland, on a January’s evening. In truth, I did not know quite what to expect, except that I was about to embark on their renowned advanced detox programme that took New Year’s resolutions to a whole new level.
The Chenot method was conceived in the 1970s by spa and health enthusiast Henri Chenot to promote longevity and prevent disease and illness in later life. The three main programmes today are advanced detox, anti-ageing, and recover and energise, and they all have the original principles at heart, as well combining the ever changing information on health and wellness available today. The Chenot Palace opened in Weggis in 2020 with a state-of-the-art 5000 square meter medical spa and luxurious rooms added to the original turreted building from the 1800s. My room was in the original part of the building, with a terrace overlooking the lake and the peaks of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus in the distance.
Waking up in the morning and donning the uniform of dressing gown and slippers to wander down to breakfast felt like going to school, especially as I was learning more about my body and health than I could have ever imagined. Breakfast consisted of a fruit puree followed by chicory coffee; the lack of caffeine definitely made it hard for me to wake up, delicious as the chicory substitute was.
My week at Chenot Palace Weggis started and ended with fascinating consultations from a doctor, nutritionist and Chinese medicine practitioner, along with high tech testing to study nutrient and energy levels as well as bone density, muscle to fat ratio and aortal age – all vital information to help you make changes to your lifestyle habits. The programme also includes a plant-based diet to help detoxify the body and reduce inflammation. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be treated to haute cuisine: I was blown away by the delicious and beautifully presented dishes. Lunch included a variety of dishes including salads and an unforgettable red lentil crepe with basil almond cheese and toasted pistachios. Dinner was never disappointing: think hearty soups followed by pumpkin and mushroom terrine or chickpea quiche. This is food so good that most guests return home with a cookbook in their suitcase, and the chefs give classes on how to replicate the recipes at home.
I always looked forward to the four-part hydrotherapy treatment each morning. The first part was a warm bath with essential oils that gave you different benefits each day, from calming to energising. The second part – which saw me drifting off into a peaceful slumber – was the detox mud wrap in which one is swaddled on a heated water bed. The third step was a rather surreal hosing down that boosted lymphatic drainage and circulation. This definitely woke me up, especially if I opted for the cold spray at the end. The final stage was by far the best, with an energetic massage tailored to my needs. The bioenergetic testing on the first day shows where there may be blockages in the body, and your masseur will target those places specifically each day. I was amazed by the end of the week to see the parts of my body that came up as red in the test had turned to an optimistic green: mission completed.
Throughout the week, your doctor will fill your schedule with an array of treatments and activities depending on your needs. Cryotherapy sessions in the mornings were a great replacement for coffee, followed by trips to the gym (which features some rather impressive equipment, including an antigravity running machine used by NASA). I am sadly not a runner anymore due to bad knees, but I could run like the wind as my body weight was halved and the running had no impact on my joints. I highly recommend trying the facials available at the hotel, including the lymphatic drainage and hydra facials that left me glowing by the end of the week. There were also trips to the sauna to detox just that little bit more, as well as laps in the pool followed by moments of blissful reading in the various corners of the hotel.
Don’t be afraid to venture out of the hotel to walk along the lake, even in cold January temperatures (think of it as a cryotherapy session). You will be able to watch the birds skimming the water’s surface and the Alps, sprinkled with snow, glistening in the changing light. As my doctor advised me, the fresh alpine air is some of the best medicine we can give ourselves, so make sure to dose up on it as much as you can. If you choose to go in the warmer months, the lake will become the centre of your stay, with time spent in between appointments lounging in the sun and diving into the crystal waters. I optimistically went for a dip, but only up to my waist.; I was not as brave as I thought, and the winter temperatures got the better of me.
The knowledge I gained at Chenot Palace about my health and wellbeing has allowed me to make informed changes to my lifestyle. It did, however, take me a while to adjust to my normal routine. (As the doctors advised, don’t go full throttle straight away.) It was a week I won’t forget, just as much for the enjoyment and education as for the tougher moments.
