- Interior
In the heart of Paris, on the famous Boulevard Raspail, is Le Grand Hôtel Cayré, a hotel that is not only a luxurious place to stay, but also a place with a rich, cultural and literary history. Founded in 1920 by Auguste Cayré, the hotel reflects the artistic and intellectual flowering of Paris during the Roaring Twenties and has been a haven for writers, artists and intellectuals ever since.
Auguste Cayré, originally from Aveyron, opened the original Hôtel Cayré in the Saint-Thomas d'Aquin district in the early 20th century. He deliberately chose this location, which soon became the intellectual and artistic centre of the capital. The building, designed by architect Achille Champy in 1915, exudes the style of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. With its natural stone facade, ornate balconies and glasswork, the hotel was a stately and elegant beacon in the city from the beginning. When it opened its doors in 1920, it immediately attracted guests from the literary and cultural elite. The neighbourhood around Hôtel Cayré became a meeting place for publishers and intellectuals in the early 20th century. Big names like André Gide, James Joyce, Albert Camus and Jean Cocteau made their home there or met regularly. Nearby Saint-Germain-des-Prés, with its bustling cafés and jazz cellars, provided the backdrop for this artistic community. Hôtel Cayré was at the centre of this cultural flowering and became the home of many writers and artists, giving the hotel an almost mythical status. 
During World War II, Hôtel Cayré, like many other iconic buildings in Paris, was seized by the German secret service. The hotel became a symbol of the difficult war years, but also a source of inspiration for filmmakers and writers. Joseph Kessel and Jean-Pierre Melville used the hotel as the setting for their film ‘Army of Shadows’. Moreover, during the liberation of Paris, the hotel became a refuge for many prominent figures, including the Franco-German writer Annette Kolb, who stayed here for 17 years. After the war, in the 1950s, the jazz scene flourished in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. The hotel, and especially the restaurant run by chef Mercier, became a meeting place for editors, politicians and spies during the Cold War. With its elegant decor and classic French cuisine, Hôtel Cayré remained a favourite destination for the Parisian elite. After generations of family management under the Cayrés, the hotel underwent a major renovation in recent years. Under the management of the Miiro hotel group, it was renamed Le Grand Hôtel Cayré, as a tribute to its rich past. The hotel now offers 123 rooms, including two luxury suites overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The interior, designed by British architect Michaelis Boyd, combines modern elegance with the nostalgic charm of the Roaring Twenties.
Hôtel Cayré was at the centre of this cultural boom and became the home of many writers and artists.
Art and literature still play a central role at Le Grand Hôtel Cayré. The artworks and furniture in the hotel have been carefully selected by curator Gilbert Kann, with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century design pieces. Art lovers can enjoy a unique stay in the ‘L'appartement du Collectionneur’, where everything - from the furniture to the art - is for sale. This ties in with the hotel's ongoing transformation and cultural programming, which organises various events to keep the neighbourhood's artistic legacy alive. At the new restaurant, Annette's Table, named after famous writer Annette Kolb, guests enjoy traditional Parisian brasserie dishes prepared by top chef Bruno Brangea. The bar, Officine Bac, has a speakeasy atmosphere and offers a wide selection of cocktails that evoke the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. All this adds to the unique charm of the renovated hotel, where past and present come together in a special way. Today, Le Grand Hôtel Cayré is a luxury destination that manages to retain the grandeur of the past while offering a modern and cultural haven for travellers and art lovers. The hotel's vibrant history remains palpable in every detail, from its architecture to its refined gastronomy." 
Photography by Depasquale+Maffini
Text by Celien Hemelaer