Stéphane Durand
Tribu: The Literary Hotels Society
The hospitality industry in the service of culture
What if we chose a hotel the way we choose a book? Not to flip through it absentmindedly, but to immerse ourselves in it and lose ourselves within its pages, so that we might return to it with renewed appreciation. The Société des Hôtels Littéraires promises not just a reasonably priced hotel stay but a cultural experience in its own right: the chance to sleep in a writer’s home and, for one night, rub shoulders with one of our cultural icons
Discover a saga that is far from writing its final chapter.
Literary interludes and family success
Behind this unique venture is Jacques Letertre. A collector, passionate bibliophile, and president of the Association des Amis de la Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, he had dedicated his life to books long before bringing them into the hospitality industry. In 2013, he conceived a groundbreaking concept: creating four-star hotels entirely dedicated to his favorite writers. But for him, there was no question of using his idols as a mere marketing gimmick. Above all, he wanted to offer his guests a genuine cultural journey. Each location thus becomes a gateway to a literary universe.
The first chapter was written in Paris, in the Saint-Lazare Monceau neighborhood, with the Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann, dedicated to Marcel Proust. Success was immediate with a concept that appeals as much to literature lovers as to travelers who appreciate establishments with character. Very quickly, the collection expanded. Rouen welcomed Gustave Flaubert, Clermont-Ferrand Alexandre Vialatte, Montmartre Marcel Aymé, and the Grands Boulevards Arthur Rimbaud, before Nancy recently joined the constellation with Stendhal. Each time, the same guiding principle: to create a dialogue between a city, a neighborhood, and a writer, and to transform the hotel into a place of cultural transmission.
At Jacques Letertre, literature is embodied, alive, and always accessible. In his hotels, one finds manuscripts and first editions. More than just a hotel concept, the Société des Hôtels Littéraires becomes a work of art in itself, patiently built, page by page.
The Attributes of the Tribe
While Jacques Letertre laid the foundation, his son Alban Letertre is now shaping its contemporary evolution. As the group’s CEO, he is restructuring, modernizing, and steering the Société des Hôtels Littéraires toward a vision firmly focused on the future. Under his leadership, the group has become the first in its sector to adopt the status of a mission-driven company. All hotels are Clef Verte certified and operate according to principles of responsible tourism: waste reduction, water and energy conservation, eco-labeled cleaning products, sorting and recycling of organic waste… An ecological approach rooted in daily life and local communities. Breakfasts and afternoon snacks prioritize locally sourced ingredients, organic products, and regional specialties: honey, AOP cheeses, locally roasted coffee, and artisanal pastries are waiting to be discovered (and savored) at every location. In Rouen, Clermont-Ferrand, Paris, or Nancy, each location crafts its own gourmet menu, directly tied to its surroundings, to remind us that even in the city, local is still possible… and desirable. Proving that a love of literature is more than just a concept, the group publishes a newsletter called “Les Chroniques Littéraires,” which features monthly interviews, book reviews, and cultural calendars. At Letertre, we believe that we sleep much better when a story keeps us company, and that true luxury today may lie in opening a book rather than a minibar.For whom?
For all lovers of travel and reading. Proof that travel and culture can be the main ingredients of a successful trip.Why does Plume love the Society of Literary Hotels?
Charming hotels that take you on a journey through time while enriching your cultural knowledge. Sustainability and environmental responsibility are anything but a mere detail; they are part of this group’s DNA, as it has fully understood that paying tribute to the great figures of the past goes hand in hand with respecting our shared future. Each property has its own unique character, while offering guests a glimpse into the history of a famous author. Their partnership with the cosmetics brand Terre de Mars is a wise choice: the bathroom amenities are high-quality and smell absolutely divine.Arthur Rimbaud Literary Hotel, in Paris
It needed a train station, a starting point, a city swept up in the turmoil and the call of the open sea. So it was only natural that the Société des Hôtels Littéraires chose to pay tribute to Arthur Rimbaud just a stone’s throw from the Gare de l’Est. When poetry calls for a break from the journey. An address located on Rue Gustave-Goublier,
Le Swann, a literary hotel in Paris inspired by Marcel Proust
Some hotels tell the story of a city; others, of an era. The Swann tells the story of a work of art: that of Marcel Proust. Rediscover lost time alongside Marcel Proust. It is located in the historically Proustian neighborhood of Plaine Monceau and Saint-Augustin, within a 19th-century Haussmann-style building. Awarded at the 1898 World’s Fair, this building
In Nancy, a literary hotel dedicated to Stendhal
Just a hundred meters from Place Stanislas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hôtel Littéraire Stendhal seems to blend seamlessly into the backdrop of Nancy Cathedral. In red and black (but not only) Housed in an elegant 17th-century building, the former palace of the Primate of Lorraine, this four-star hotel carries on the founding vision of the Société des
