L'histoire du Grand Hôtel de Gérardmer

The Grand Hotel is a symbolic place of tourism in the Vosges.  It symbolizes the hotel tradition of the resort and its development in accordance with that of the town.

During the first half of the 19th century, Gérardmer was a rural village with various businesses, but especially scattered farms. In 1840, Félix Henry opened a post office which catered to those between Gérardmer and Remiremont. This rest stop, named Hotel of Tilleul, only had two rooms!  It will become later the Grand Hotel.

In 1860, Auguste Reiterhart, an entrepreneur, transformed the rustic host house of the post office into a comfortable hotel. More and more travellers venture to the hotel and soon tourism in Gérardmer is born. The hotel is soon renamed Hotel de la Poste and Napoleon III is one of the famous host!

1875 marks the creation of the Comite des Promenades (Committee of Walks), the ancestors of French tourist information offices of whom Auguste Reiterhart is one of the first participants.

Trains first came to Gérardmer in 1878. Started by the Hotel de la Poste, the hospitality industry in Gérardmer exploded and tourists come by the train full. It was “Belle Epoque”. Gérardmer, is now called the "Pearl of the Vosges", and becomes a fashionable resort in the North East of France.

In 1969, Henri Bragard bought the hotel. Inspired by the same faith as the pioneers of tourism in Gerardmer, he transformed the old house into a modern hotel.

It is in1985 that the Remy family, owner of an important tourist complex in La Bresse, took over the management of the hotel and established an much needed resort between the two stations of the Hautes Vosges. Claude and Fabienne Remy became the owners of the Grand Hotel.

Embracing its history and expansion, the hotel continues to evolve and adapt to the demands of modern day comfort and facilities.