Grand Bandar
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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 Great 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 Duclerque and a room dedicated to the preserved speeches of Albert Montecardé.
Background and history
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". It was actually named Château d'Aubusson, but the name was not as popular within writings between the aristocracy as its nickname.
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.
The petit palais had become famous by the 1730s and it was used as a hotbed of activity during the winter and spring months. It became the hosting grounds of lavish 'peasant themed' balls and soirees, as well as a location for the aristocracy to socialise away from the capital city. Favoured elements of high society were invited to the grounds; with countless writers, poets, philosophers and artists taking up residency at the request of the royals. Jacques Prévost, the famed writer of his day, wrote perhaps his most famous work at the chateau: The Adventures of Usbek of Yeruham.
Louis VI's brothers, like much of the extended imperial family, took an immense liking to the grounds and had them expanded through their own pockets. Prince Jean-Frederic had the surrounding countryside converted by way of agricultural produce and took to growing and maintaining his own pear, apple and cherry orchards.
For much of the remainder of the 18th century, little changed. In the 1790s however much of the chateau was burnt to the ground by way of a fire in the nearby woodlands and Francois III, who cared little for the property, did not prioritise its restoration. It fell to other members of the house to try to maintain and restore the chateau to its former glory, but little succeeded. The property turned little profit, its fruit orchards had fallen out of fashion and other resorts and retreats took the popularity away from the petit palais.
When he ascended to the throne in April of 1814, Louis VII visited the grounds and decided that it was time to abandon the property. It was an advertised affair with individuals promised to own "once royal land". There were even discussions of putting the property up for sale via lottery, but ultimately the crown sold both the property and the land privately in a direct deal to Jacques Vabre; a tea, coffee and chocolate tycoon who intended on creating an idealised tea-house and cafe on the property in the style of "a Euclean ganomé". Vabre thought of creating a large, multifaceted complex in the town of Aubusson to not only cater to the needs of the guests who arrived but to provide food and drink to nobility who had found Aubusson a fashionable place to travel.
Despite the secluded location, Vabre's establishment earned a reputation very quickly upon its opening. The "Cafe du Desebau" styled itself as an "austral experience" and fashioned its hot drinks in the style of heavily spiced beverages. It was so popular of an establishment that newspapers from the time in Montsesleaux described that there were daily exoduses from the upper-class of the city as they journeyed to take their tea at the cafe.
By the 1830s, however, Vabre had fallen on hard times. He was forced to sell the property and its land to cover his debts to Maurice Dudevant. Dudevant, who had made a fortune in mining in Gaullica's Bahian possessions and who had acquired a taste for the hospitality business in the city of Adunis, had decided to settle on creating a hotel in the town of Aubusson. He figured its historical significance and story, as well as the neighbouring town, would facilitate a large and elite reputation.
Once the property was acquired Dudevant had its development managed by his daughter; Lucile Dudevant. Lucile proved to be an astute and effective businesswoman and spared little to no expense. She wished to recreate the grandeur of what had been a once royal residence and commissioned a young Charles Labrouste into creating her "Grand Hotel" in a new, revolutionary style. This hotel became the 'Grand Bandar', named for the Pardarani word for 'port' which fit with her idea that this would be a safe place for comers and goers.
The Dudevants pursued an aggressive marketing campaign to publicise the opening of their hotel; inviting the artistic strata of society, the royals and the most high profile individuals in the empire to its grand opening. Rooms were named after the guests who took them first. Lucile even reinvited Vabre to operate a cafe within the hotel, further increasing the profile of their newly opened business.
Originally opening with 100 rooms, a restaurant, its famed Vabre Cafe, communal and private bathing facilities and an outdoor exercise complex, the 'Grand Bandar' became a success story overnight. The guests who were invited considered themselves privileged and of an elite status and class, and the appearance of Gaullica's newly crowned Empress Evelin stole the show. Her highly public appearance, including having the most luxurious suite named after her, had an incredible impact on the publicity the hotel received. The 'Grand Opening' in 1852 was such a celebrated affair in the socialite circles that it was referred to in numerous newspapers and novels of the day.
By the 1880s the hotel had been expanded incredibly to include two extra wings, bringing the room total to 398. The building was extensively refurbished in 1888 to include telephone connections, functioning ensuite lavatories and bathrooms and internal electrical lighting.