The Grand Hotel Europe has completed renovation work on its Billiard Room, which is an object of historic value and is protected by the city’s committee for the state control, use and protection of historic and cultural monuments.
The Billiard Room of the Grand Hotel Europe is used as a conference room and covers an area of 56 square meters on the historic floor of the hotel. Renovation work has been carried out in the Billiard Room without altering the basic elements of its historic décor.
The conference room is special due to its unique interior, which has been preserved from the 19th century. With its oak panelling inset with precious kinds of wood, its stained glass windows, and its classic billiard room-style lamps, it is a valuable historic example of the Belle Epoque style that has not been ravaged by time and is open today for people to admire. The new upholstery of the walls creates an artistic unity between all the elements of the interior and a striking integrity and harmony in the room.
A soft, low light usually illuminates the billiard room, creating a relaxing, cosy atmosphere. Stained glass windows and a pendulum clock situated opposite the door to the room fill it with the spirit of aristocracy. In the centre of the Billiard Room stands a vast oak table that can accommodate up to 20 people and French armchairs upholstered in red leather, along with a large curved sofa. The atmosphere is perfect for holding business meetings, and the Billiard Room is fully equipped for this purpose with sockets for laptop computers skilfully concealed in the designer table, and a large plasma screen that does not in the least detract from the historic ambience of the room.
Distinguished guests to have visited the Billiard Room include Vladimir Putin, Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac, who had a meeting here in 2003; Juan Antonio Samaranch; the president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn; King Harald V of Norway; Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange; and Mikhail Gorbachev.
