"I created the Société des Hôtels Littéraires to share my love of books with thousands of visitors whom I do not know, but who I know are happy to find an author or a book by chance on a trip to Paris, Rouen, Clermont-Ferrand or Biarritz".
Jacques Letertre, President of the Société des Hôtels Littéraires
The originator of the original concept of the Hôtels Littéraires is the collector and bibliophile Jacques Letertre. By dedicating each of his hotels to his favourite writers, this book lover wishes to share his passion with all visitors and offer them an immersion in the world of the greatest authors.
Each hotel is an invitation to travel and culture in the universe of a beloved author to (re)find the pleasure of reading during a stay in Paris, Rouen, Clermont-Ferrand and Biarritz.
The adventure began in 2013 with the opening of the Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann dedicated to Marcel Proust in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was an immediate success and projects followed with the Gustave Flaubert Literary Hotel in Rouen, the Alexandre Vialatte Literary Hotel in Clermont-Ferrand, the Marcel Aymé Literary Hotel in Montmartre and the Arthur Rimbaud Literary Hotel in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. In September 2021, the sixth Literary Hotel in the collection, entirely dedicated to Jules Verne, will open in Biarritz.
The decoration of these four-star hotels pays homage to the writer, chosen through multiple artistic approaches to offer an original cultural journey to his guests.
The rooms are personalised and illustrated to offer visitors a tailor-made stay in the author's world
Multilingual libraries of five hundred books are available to readers, not far from the first editions and art bindings displayed in the windows.
Each Hôtel Littéraire has a space dedicated to exhibiting the collections gathered over the years on each writer: manuscripts, works of art and period objects are displayed alongside contemporary creations by local artists who reinterpret the classics.
The life of the hotel is punctuated by literary evenings, prize-giving ceremonies, art exhibitions and shows, making it a true cultural centre within its town or neighbourhood.
A company with a mission
The Société des Hôtels Littéraires was born out of the desire to share the passion for books and literature with guests from all walks of life.
Based on its conviction that culture is the keystone of sustainable development, a dimension shared by UNESCO in its 2030 Agenda, and that it must be accessible to as many people as possible, our company has decided to respond to current societal challenges by placing its resources at the service of a cultural objective, which is its raison d'être.
The Société des Hôtels Littéraires has therefore naturally set itself the innovative mission of making French literature accessible to a wider public by making a hotel stay a literary and artistic journey to an author's home.
Its hotel offer provides creative cultural content to disseminate the works of leading French writers to its visitors and to make them aware of new artistic worlds, thus participating in the development of the common good and sustainable tourism.
Among many examples of concrete commitments, each Hôtel Littéraire offers a sensory presentation of the life and work of a great writer in its furnishings and decoration, complemented by the presence of multilingual libraries, original documents and period and contemporary art objects in exhibition spaces, the production of educational literature, the defence of the book trade (bookbinders, gilders and typographers), the organisation of various cultural events and numerous partnerships with the world of books and culture, from bookshops to associations of writers' friends, via publishing houses, libraries and museums.
Each stay is an opportunity for a new immersion in the world of books and literature. The Hôtels Littéraires also become patrons of the arts and key cultural players in their city or neighbourhood by offering free access to their research and reading spaces, their collections and public events.
All the teams of the Hôtels Littéraires are involved in this social and cultural mission and actively participate in its influence through their willingness to receive and transmit this literary passion and have an autonomy that favours local initiative and the creative investment of each individual.
Our environmental commitment
In Unesco’s 2030 Calendar, the dimension of culture is included as a keystone of sustainable development, with the idea of making it accessible to as many people as possible. To meet current societal challenges, and to contribute to general interest, our company has decided to put its resources at the service of this project.
The Société des Hôtels Littéraires has therefore set itself the mission of making French literature accessible to a wider audience by making a hotel stay a literary and artistic journey of an author’s works.
To disseminate the works of famous French writers to its visitors. and to make them aware of new artistic worlds, our hotel offer includes creative cultural content, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable tourism.
With the leadership of Alban Letertre, Managing Director, the Hôtels Littéraires became pioneers of the ecological transition in the tourism industry. We joined the Coq vert community, part of the BPI, a very close partner. We are proud to be a Scout member in order to help other companies willing to participate in this fundamental evolution of the hotel industry.
All our hotels have received the international Green Key label, the first international and sustainable label which proposes to act for sustainable tourism.
In everyday life, it means :
• Offering Sustainable products
• Working on energy savings
• Buying from local producers
• Limiting food waste
• Using Eco labeled Products
The Hotel Littéraire Arthur Rimbaud is situated at the foot of the Gare de l'Est, in the historic district of the 10th Arrondissement, where Rimbaud arrived from his native Ardennes between two runaway escapades. Visitors are offered a discovery trail of the poet's complete works via the décor, which is a homage to Rimbaud's voyages and travels from one place to another; nature, Aden and Harar, and Parisian cafés. The many collectors' items, such as manuscripts, rare books, drawings and objets d'art, create an authentic look. In addition, the personalised rooms and all the floors reflect Rimbaud's life and writings.
The Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann, in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris, was the first Hôtel Littéraire to be entirely devoted to Marcel Proust and his world.
It is located in the heart of the historically Proustian district of the Plaine Monceau.
11-15 rue de Constantinople, 75008 PARIS
In Montmartre, a short distance from the Moulin de la Galette The Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé.
The Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé, in the charming Rue Tholozé, pays tribute to the author of Les Contes du chat perché and La Traversée de Paris, who was an iconic figure in Montmartre.
16, rue Tholozé - 75018 PARIS
In Rouen, near the Place du Vieux Marché The Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert.
The Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert pays tribute to this writer from Normandy, in the city in which he was born and where he spent most of his life.
33 rue du Vieux Palais, 76000 ROUEN
In Clermont-Ferrand, in the Place Delille The Hotel Littéraire Alexandre Vialatte.
The hotel is situated near the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Port, a jewel of Romanesque art. It's an ideal starting-point for exploring the city in which Alexandre Vialatte, the "notoriously unknown" novelist, journalist and translator, lived for several years.
6 place Delille, 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
In 2021: The Hôtel Littéraire Jules Verne in Biarritz
Not far from the ocean that so inspired him to write his "extraordinary journeys," the Hotel Littéraire Jules Verne celebrates the author of Tour du monde en quatre-vingt jours (Around the World in Eighty Days) and Vingt Mille lieues sous les mers (Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea), in a setting that represents discovery and adventure.
Hôtel Littéraire Arthur Rimbaud, BW Signature Collection
