Grand Bandar

The Grand Bandar, before and after.

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The original Grand Bandar served as a hotel within the Val de Mareine, catering to nobility and nouveau-riches alike

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When rebuilt and restored in the 1940s, the Grand Bandar took on a decidedly modernist architectural style and attempted to operate as a hotel before being bought by the Gaullican state for historical purposes.

The Grand Bandar is a historic site and museum within the spa town of Aubusson in the Val de Mareine. Historically, the Grand Bandar was a grandiose mountainside resort utilised by the elements of both aristocratic and industrial society.

Prior to the Great War the mountainside resort became a popular destination for holidaying amongst the upper ranks of the Parti Populaire, so much so that Rafael Duclerque - the Gaullican Premier at the time - acquired the building for himself. Made impractical and thoroughly bombed during the Greatr War, the building fell into disrepair and ruin.

Following a failed attempted rebuilding and reopening in a new architectural style, it was bought by the Gaullican state in the 1950s to serve as a museum of anti-functionalism as well as catalogue the foundation of the Gaullican Republic.

Internationally renowned for its reconstruction and change in architectural style, the Grand Bandar receives an average of 6.7 million tourists a year. Notable exhibits include a preserved room utilised by Rafael Duclerque and a room dedicated to the preserved speeches of Albert Montecardé.

Background and history

Valery Bonhomme was tasked with surveying and purchasing the plot of land for the royal estate.

In the early 18th century, Charles X commissioned his court to locate a suitable location in the country, far from the Ile de Fleur, for the royal family to have their winter retreat. Originally a far smaller complex, the winter residency was decided to encompass the monarch's passions: hiking, painting, hunting and exploration. Bonhomme, who led the royal's mission into purchasing land, was suitably impressed by a location near the small mountainside village of Aubusson.

Purchasing a plot of land for the monarch originally proved difficult due to a lack of interest in selling from Charles Armand, the count of Montsesleaux. Armand was not interested in selling and it was only when he died in 1703 that his widow sold the land to Bonhomme at a significantly lower price than the royals were originally interested in paying. The Imperial Estate logged its payment for the plot of land outside of Aubusson as "inconsequential". The following year, Charles died of complications from stomach ulcers and the project remained in limbo for some time.

However, by 1707, at the request of Charles' son Louis - who now ruled - the establishment of a winter residency at Aubusson continued. His specific interests varied from his father and the grounds were expanded to include room for fishing, horse back riding and extensive shooting. Louis also ordered a library to be constructed.

Much of the work was undertaken by the architect Anne-Hilarion, who was renowned at the time for the facades of numerous royal residences in the capital of Verlois. By this point the residency itself had taken the name of the "petit palais d'Aubusson", often just the "petit palais".

Throughout the succeeding decades the town of Aubusson grew into a resort in and of itself, becoming an iconic spa town for both middle class travellers and the nobility of the empire.