Alphons Maximilian Pfyffer von Altishofen, better known as Max Alphons Pfyffer von Altishofen (12 October 1834 â 12 January 1890), was a Swiss architect, hotelier and military officer. He built the Grand Hotel National, which his father-in-law owned, and 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.
A member of the Pfyffer family, Max Alphons Pfyffer von Altishofen was born on 12 October 1834 in Altishofen, in the canton of Lucerne, to Heinrich Pfyffer von Altishofen, the last lord of Altishofen, and Theresia von Moos. He was the brother of the politician Ludwig Pfyffer von Altishofen. From 1846 onwards, Pfyffer grew up in Augsburg and Munich, where he later studied architecture.
Between 1852 and 1861, Pfyffer served as a mercenary in the army of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He took part in the 1860âÂÂ1861 Siege of Gaeta during the wars of Italian Unification. Upon his return to Switzerland, Pfyffer joined the General Staff of the Swiss Armed Forces as a captain in 1861. He was promoted to colonel in 1875, to divisionary in 1877, and served as Chief of the General Staff from 1883 until 1890.
Under Pfyffer's leadership, national fortification plans were developed, including the fortifications in the Gotthard Pass (initiated in 1886). His work in the General Staff established him as a pioneer of the National Redoubt concept. Pfyffer also supported the training of members of the general staff, prepared mobilization plans, organized the territorial service, created the bicycle troops and introduced optical signaling in the Swiss military.
After returning from Italy, Pfyffer operated a mechanical workshop with his brothers, practiced as an architect and managed the Hotel National along with Josef Franz Lorenz Segesser von Brunegg's son. He participated in the development of major Lucerne landmarks; Pfyffer built the Hotel Luzernerhof for his father-in-law in 1864 and designed the interior of the Grand Hotel National in Lucerne, which he subsequently co-managed, from 1868 to 1870. In 1878, he appointed César Ritz to manage the hotel, a position Ritz held until 1890.
Pfyffer was a moderate conservative in politics. In 1862, he married "Mathilde" Barbara Georgina Segesser von Brunegg (1842âÂÂ1903), a daughter of Eduard Segesser von Brunegg (1811âÂÂ1868) and Anna Maria Segesser von Brunegg (née von Vivis; 1817âÂÂ1904), both from the patriciate. They had six children;
Pfyffer was a recipient of the Order of Saint George of the Reunion and the Royal Order of Francis I. He died on 12 January 1890 in Lucerne, aged 55.