Hotel de France (Le Mans / La Chartre sur le Loir)
Hotel de France | |
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General information | |
Location | La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, France |
Opening | 1905 |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 3 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | French |
Other information | |
Number of rooms | 22 |
Number of restaurants | 1[1] |
Parking | Yes |
Website | |
http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/ |
The Hotel de France is a historic hotel in the centre of the town of La Chartre Sur Le Loir. The 22 room hotel, with its Art Deco facade, is located at 20, Place de la République, 27 miles due south of Le Mans. It is famous for its long association with the drivers, teams and cars of the Le Mans 24 Hours race.
History
The hotel opened for business in 1905,[2] having been run by the same family for the past four generations, before a change of ownership at the end of 2013. From 1953, it was used as headquarters for Le Mans racing teams, most notably by teams managed by John Wyer.[3] Wyer ran the victorious Aston Martin[4] and Gulf Oil teams from the hotel, his first Le Mans victory, celebrated at the hotel, coming in 1959.[5] As a consequence, the hotel is full of motor racing history.
The garage to the the side of the hotel and what is now a car park at the rear were used by mechanics to work on the race cars, which would then be driven on public roads to and from the circuit until the early 1970's.[6] The hotel is a mecca for fans of the Le Mans 24 Hours race.[7] The bar walls are covered with photos of past and present racing drivers, many of them signed by the drivers themselves.
The hotel underwent an extensive refurbishment at the start of 2014, retaining and highlighting its motor sport heritage.
Notable residents
To date the hotel has been visited by world famous racing drivers, film stars, leaders of state and royalty.[8]
Motor Racing Drivers[9]
Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, Justin Bell, team manager John Wyer, Jo Siffert, Vern Schuppan, Richard Attwood, Mike Salmon, Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Pedro Rodriguez, Jackie Oliver, Jean Pierre Jaussaud, Innes Ireland, Jo Schlesser, Maurice Trintignant, John Whitmore, Graham Hill, Jack Fairman, Roy Salvadori, Reg Parnell, Lucien Bianchi, Carroll Shelby, Olivier Gendebien, Phil Hill, Jacques Laffite, Tony Brooks, Jochen Rindt, Peter Collins, Paul Frere, David Piper, Guy Ligier, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Francois Migault, Mike Hailwood, Bruce Mclaren, Frank Williams and Briggs Cunningham.
Actors and Film Directors
Steve McQueen when preparing for the cult 1971 movie Le Mans
Leaders of State and Royalty
President Rene Coty of France, Prince Bertil of Sweden, Pierre Salinger (John F Kennedy Press Secretary) and the children of both John F Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.
References
- ^ http://restaurant.michelin.fr/restaurant/france/72340-la-chartre-sur-le-loir/hotel-de-france/2bp3mvt
- ^ http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/what-to-do/hotel-de-france-history-le-mans/
- ^ John Wyer
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/le-mans/10153305/Aston-Martin-centenary-celebration-at-Le-Mans.html
- ^ http://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/amoc-%E2%80%98john-wyer-tribute%E2%80%99-famous-hotel-de-france-10-june-2011
- ^ http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/driving-a-prototype-to-the-race-track_2_2_1746_12869.html
- ^ http://www.classicandsportscar.com/blogs/james-elliott/hotel-de-france-my-new-must-visit-le-mans-related-monument
- ^ http://www.lhoteldefrance.fr//wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Hotel-de-France-Hostory-1.pdf
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/lHotelDeFrance