Before the Great War, the villa and its garden used to belong to Jean HEYSCH, an industrialist who left Thann after the 1918 Armistice. The villa had suffered severe damage from heavy bombing.
After being repaired and converted, the brand new “Hotel du Parc” was inaugurated on 14 July 1921 by René ORTLIEB (senior), born in Thann in 1874.
Between the two wars, the Hotel du Parc was the most elegant hotel in Thann, which served as a venue for all the major events and banquets.
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| During the German occupation between 1940 and 1944, the Hotel du Parc was called Park Hotel. Its manager René ORTLIEB (junior), born in Thann in 1908, fell victim to the Nazis. On his death, his sister took over the hotel, which was run by different managers for 40 years. Didier and Rosangela Martin have been the new owners since February 1992. The Hotel du Parc re-opened its doors after one year’s renovation work. |
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Numerous celebrities have stayed at this hotel :
Politicians :
Marechal Pétain who wrote, “I shall return” in the visitor’s book.
René Plévena, one of the first to join De Gaulle in 1940. He was a Minister several times, Lord Chancellor from 1969 to 1973, a Member of Parliament and Resistance fightert.
General De Gaulle
General Gamelin, Commander of the troops dispatched to Syria to quell the Druze rebellion, stayed at the Hotel du Parc. He was General-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in 1939.
General Giraud, who escaped from the Koenigstein fortress in April 1942, also stayed at the Hotel. The owner of the Hotel du Parc was the last person to hide him. He guided him to Switzerland, a gesture that cost him his life.
Jacques d’Alsace. He was the voice of Radio London from 1940 to 1944, “The French Talking to the French”.
Field Maréchal De Lattre De Tassigny
General Bethouard, liberator of Thann
General Du Vizier, liberator of Thann. |
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Artists :
Jeanne Moreau and François Truffaut stayed at the hotel for several weeks in 1962 during the shooting of the film “Jules et Jim”.
The poet and writer Emile Henriot was a guest of the hotel in 1952.
The actor and writer Robert Lamoureux.
The pre-war music hall singer Rita Ketty.
The child prodigy Roberto Benzi who conducted his first symphonic orchestra at the age of 5.
The impersonator and comic Laurent Gerra.
The actor Michel GalabruThe comedians Eric and Ramzi.
Sportsmen ::
The aviator Maurice Bellonte, who accomplished the first Paris-New York flight in a Breguet in 1930, with Costes.
The Italian Fausto Coppi, who won the Tour de France twice and the Italian Tour five times. He was also the world track-racing champion and hour record-holder.
Edgard Grospiron, the world champion of mogul skiing.
Carole Merle, the skiing champion.
Colin Peray, the skipper and owner of the boat “Stars and Stripes” of the 1986 America Cup.
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