Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, Arthur Rimbaud, Stendhal, George Sand – you must recognize these names of major French writers. No, this article is not a book review, but an introduction to a unique cultural concept in France: Les Hôtels Littéraires.
An avid book-reader and bibliophile, Monsieur Jacques Letertre, decided to share his passion for French literature. He writes: “I created the Société des Hôtels Littéraires to share my love of books with thousands of guests I do not know, but who, and this I do know, are happy to come across an author or a book while visiting Paris…”
The moment you cross the threshold of an Hôtel Littéraire (so far, there six of them), you enter the world of the writer whose name you see, to whom a great tribute is paid. Each of the Hôtels is located in a city where the writer was born or where the writer had strong connections.
Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann
This first Hôtel Littéraire was opened in 2013 – named Le Swann, after the main character of A la Recherche du Temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time and often referred to as just “La Recherche”). It is devoted, of course, to Marcel Proust (1871-1922). It is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, near the Gare Saint-Lazare, a neighborhood very familiar to the writer.
If the pattern is similar in all of the Hôtels Littéraires, the decoration in each is obviously unique as it relates to each named author.
In the hall of Le Swann, on the walls, you see paintings, photos, and drawings relating to Marcel Proust. The bookshelves are filled with hundreds of books written by the author (some rare editions) or relating to the author in French or other languages. Display cases hold memorabilia, rare manuscripts, and autographs.
In addition to the permanent decor, temporary exhibits are organized. Until June 23, 2026, the topic in Le Swann is “Proust and the women in his life, muses and heroines.”
Conferences are held on a regular basis. This is where La Société des Amis de Proust meets and where scholars and writers present their latest books or publications about him.
The Hôtel Le Swann is in a six-floor building, and as soon as you get out of the elevator, you can read a quotation on the walls. Each floor is named after a part of Proust’s life: Combray (where he used to spend Easter vacations at his uncle and aunt’s house); Balbec, the literary name of the sea resort known as Cabourg in Normandy, where he used to go in the summer time to cure his asthma; and Venise, a city he loved.
Each room is named after a character from La Recherche. Just to name a few: Charles Haas, who was the inspiration for the main character in La Recherche; Tante Léonie, his aunt who used to give him the famous petite madeleine cakes; Céleste Albaret, his faithful governess; Jacques Doucet, the well-known couturier of the Belle Époque; and many more as there are 80 rooms.
In each room, on the bedside table is a paperback copy of La Recherche, which is lent to you while you stay at the Hôtel. There is also a copy of a very detailed brochure about the writer and the Hôtel, which is yours to take home.
Hôtel Gustave Flaubert
The second Hôtel Littéraire is a tribute to Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880). It was opened in 2015 and is located in the historical center of Rouen, in Normandy. Flaubert was born in this city. He wrote Madame Bovary and Salammbô. Flaubert knew Marcel Proust, Guy de Maupassant and George Sand.
Hôtel Alexandre Vialatte
The following year 2016 the Hôtel Alexandre Vialatte was opened in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne region of France. Alexandre Vialatte was born in Haute-Vienne in 1901 and died in Paris in 1971. He is maybe not as well-known as a writer, although he was a journalist, a book critic and a translator. He wrote for the famous newspaper La Montagne which covered and still covers the news of the center of France. His pieces were short but exuded a good sense of humor.
Hôtel Marcel Aymé and the Hôtel Arthur Rimbaud
Back in Paris: the Hôtel Marcel Aymé and the Hôtel Arthur Rimbaud were opened successively in 2018 and 2019.
Marcel Aymé (1902-1967) wrote the famous play: Le Passe-Muraille (The Walker Through Walls).
For forty years, he lived in the Montmartre quartier in the 18th arrondissement, where the Hôtel is located. Nearby, is the famous Le Passe-Muraille sculpture by the actor and sculptor Jean Marais (1913-1998) as a tribute to the author, who is buried in the Cimetière Saint-Vincent in Montmartre.
The prodigious poet Arthur Rimbaud, who was born in Charleville, in the east of France, and who came to Paris in 1870 invited by another famous poet, Paul Verlaine. The two poets led a tumultuous and passionate relationship. Rimbaud died at the age of 37 (1854-1891); Verlaine, also born in the east of France, lived from 1844 to 1896.
The Hôtel Arthur Rimbaud is located in the 10th arrondissement, near the Gare de l’Est, where trains come and go to the east of France. “The hotel is a symbol of departure and travel, and it seemed to us an ideal way to celebrate Rimbaud and his poetry” (the Hôtel’s brochure). Each room is dedicated to a poem by Rimbaud, illustrated with an original watercolor by the artist Jean Aubertin.
Hôtel Stendahl
The latest Hôtel Littéraire was inaugurated in 2024 in the beautiful city of the east of France, Nancy, and it is dedicated to Stendhal, born Henri Beyle (1783-1842). Stendhal did not live in Nancy but his “unfinished masterpiece, Lucien Leuwen, is set in the city of Nancy, which still has the merit of having a national opera house – we know Stendhal’s passion for music, in particular Mozart and Rossini” to quote Hélène Montjean from the Hotel’s brochure.
Two of Stendhal’s very well-known novels are: Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) and La Chartreuse de Parme (The Charterhouse of Parma).
If you go to Nancy over the weekend of September 11-13, 2026, you can attend the famous Salon du Livre.
Maison Littéraire George Sand
Sometime this fall 2026, La Société des Hôtels Littéraires will create its first Maison Littéraire in the heart of Bordeaux. This Hôtel It will be located near the Cathedral in a 19th century hôtel particulier and will be dedicated to the very famous lady writer George Sand, née Aurore Dupin (1804-1876).
For more information, the website is www.hotelslitteraires.fr