Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel complex of Vittel is a major testimony of the thermal architecture of the early twentieth century. Composed of three buildings, it embodies the prestige of the seaside resorts of the period: the Hotel Vittel-Palace, initiated in 1900 by the architect Fernand Nachon, then enlarged between 1932 and 1934 by Fernand César, is distinguished by its glass dome adorned with geometric motifs, work of the nean glass master André Lemoine. These elements reflect the combination of luxury, modernity and craftsmanship, characteristic of the large thermal hotels.

The Grand Hotel, built between 1912 and 1920 by Georges Walwein, and the Hotel Ermitage, built in 1929 by Fernand César, complete this ensemble. Their facades, roofs and interior spaces (bathrooms, lounges) were protected by a registration order in 1990, highlighting their heritage value. These hotels symbolize the golden age of thermalism in Lorraine, where the aristocracy and the European bourgeoisie came to recharge, mixing care, worldliness and ambitious architecture.

Ranked a Historical Monument, the set also illustrates the evolution of constructive and decorative techniques in the 20th century. The dome of the Vittel-Palace, with its glass windows by Lemoine, embodies the influence of the École de Nancy in glassmaking, while the expansions of the 1930s reflect Art Deco trends. Private property, these hotels remain emblems of the French thermal heritage, linked to the social and medical history of the Greater East region.

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