Alphons Maximilian Pfyffer von Altishofen

Alphons Maximilian Pfyffer von Altishofen (also known as Max Alphons Pfyffer; 12 October 1834 in Altishofen – 12 January 1890 in Lucerne) was a Swiss architect, hotelier and military Chief of Staff. He built the Grand Hotel National, which his father-in-law owned.^[1] He hired César Ritz to manage it. His son Hans Pfyffer took over management of the hotel in 1890 after Ritz had left Lucerne for London to manage the Savoy Hotel.^[2]

Portrait of Max Pfyffer

Grand National Hotel

Personal life

In 1862, Pfyffer married "Mathilde" Barbara Georgina Segesser von Brunegg (1842–1903), a daughter of Eduard Segesser von Brunegg (1811–1868) and Anna Maria Segesser von Brunegg (née von Vivis; 1817–1904), both from the Patriciate. They had six children;

• Alphons-Heinrich Pfyffer von Altishofen (1863–1929), married Eugenia Coraggioni d'Orelli (1865–1952); five children.
• Maria "Mathilde" Adelheid Georgia Pfyffer von Altishofen (1864–1933), married Emil Pestalozzi, a medical doctor; no children.
• Hans Pfyffer von Altishofen (1866–1953), married Josephine Reichmann; one son.
• "Georgine" Mathilde Johanna Pfyffer von Altishofen (1868–1936), married Julius Franz Georg Elmiger (1861–1934); eight children.
• Mathilde Maria Theresia Pfyffer von Altishofen (1870–1943), never married
• Heinrich Hektor "Robert" Pfyffer von Altishofen (1873–1938), married firstly to Helene von Kiezopolska, secondly to Alice von Heller (1871–1939).

Pfyffer died 12 January 1890 in Lucerne, Switzerland aged 56.

Selected works

• Luzernerhof Hotel, Lucerne, 1864–65
• Plan for an avenue to the Lion Monument, Lucerne 1865
• Project for a museum on the alpine road in 1866
• Hotel National, Lucerne
• Plans for the Kursaal, Lucerne. 1868
• Plans for the Gotthard fortress, concept design, design from 1886