L'Hermitage à La Baule : 100 ans d'histoire et de secrets

It is one of the most prestigious hotels, perhaps even the most prestigious, in our region. The Hermitage in La Baule is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Discover the fascinating history of this legendary palace, from the glamorous parties of the Roaring Twenties to the miracles of wartime. A symbol of French chic, the Hermitage Hotel in La Baule has graced the Atlantic coast for a century. Built in just seven months in 1925 under the impetus of François André, founder of the Barrière group, this six-story, 300-room establishment profoundly transformed the seaside resort into an international tourist destination. The arrival of the railway and the train station brought an influx of wealthy clientele, who came to participate in the parties, beauty pageants, and parades on the beach during the 1930s. World-renowned celebrities such as Edith Piaf, Winston Churchill, and King Hassan II stayed here, cementing the building's place in local and national heritage. However, the history of this luxury resort nearly took a dramatic turn during World War II. Requisitioned by the German high command in 1940 and converted into a military hospital, the establishment became the scene of extraordinary events. On November 4, 1941, the hotel narrowly escaped destruction when two bombs passed through its walls without exploding. It was also in this hospital that Alan Magee, an English aviator nicknamed "the miracle of Saint-Nazaire," was treated. He survived a historic 4,000-meter fall without a parachute after crashing through the glass roof of the train station. Through exclusive accounts from the resort's management and contemporary historians, explore the behind-the-scenes stories and archives of a unique historical landmark in the Pays de la Loire region. 00:00 - Introduction: The Legend of the Hermitage in La Baule 00:23 - François André's Vision and the Birth of the Resort 00:54 - The Roaring Twenties: Celebrities and High Society Parties 01:18 - World War II: A Requisitioned Hotel 01:31 - The Miracle of the Unexploded Bombs of 1941 02:01 - The Incredible Story of Alan Magee, the Miracle Survivor All our videos ►https://www.france.tv/france-3/pays-d... All the news ►pdl.france3.fr The different channels to watch us on TV: ►Orange/Sosh 320 | ►Free 321 | ►SFR/Red and Numericable 450 | ►Fransat 314 | ►Canal Sat 369 | ►Bouygues/ Bbox 489 | ►Darty Box 311 | Instagram ►  / france3pdl   Facebook ►  / france3pdl   To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletters ► http://www.francetv.fr/abonnements/