Esprit de France

The Esprit de France story began at the initiative of its founder, Christophe Paluel-Marmont. A lover of beautiful historic estate houses, a great lover of art, and owner operator of hotels in Paris, he wanted to create a club for owners of hotels and estate houses, gathered around a common passion: heritage, art, and history.

His intention was to unite the strengths of everyone, in order to share experiences, to make available the expertise acquired, and above all to get together among enthusiasts.

Remarkable for their historical or contemporary architecture, the Esprit de France residences and hotels, located near places of Art and History, go beyond the simple notion of lodging, to introduce a cultural dimension. They offer their guests a unique experience.

Whether châteaux, estate houses, country houses, hotels... they all have their character. Each room in them is unique, imbued with the spirit of the place.

Enjoying a stay in an Esprit de France property means the promise of a timeless, unforgettable journey through France.

What is the symbolism behind the Esprit de France logo?
The ancient oak reflects the union between a rich past and a promising future, between respect for History and the advantages of modernity. Its many leaves, connected to the branches, symbolise the Esprit de France members.

Mr & Mrs Smith Hôtel collection

A hotel in our collection not only has to have an unmatched ambience and hit the right style notes, it has to tick our ‘certain something’ box: the welcome should be warm, without fuss or formality; rooms should be seductive and supplied with thoughtful extras; drinks must be perfectly mixed and dinners delicious; and, crucially, the stay must be memorable for all the right reasons.

A Smith hotel has to be…

Unique, insider and destination-specific. It can’t feel like an anonymous, could-be-anywhere shell, and needs to have a special atmosphere that suggests intimacy, regardless of the hotel’s scale.
Stylish and idiosyncratic. Its decor should be inspiring, design-led and gimmick-free. It should be fashionable, but not ‘funky/outlandish’; sleek but not spartan; trend-aware but not try-hard; glamorous but not garish.
Romantic, cool, sexy and escapist. Our hotels are couples-oriented, and are somewhere you can happily hole up for a few days if you want to get away from it all. They should have a fantastic location or another unique USP, such as fires in the bedrooms, stunning views or an amazing restaurant.
Unfussy, informal and welcoming. Even the five-star hotels in our collection should feel relaxed, rather than stuffy or intimidating.
Friendly, personal and discreet. Service shouldn’t be about the kind of bowing and scraping that makes you feel uncomfortable. There should be lots of attention to detail, which will make the experience out of the ordinary.
Value for money. If a hotel charges a high price for a room, then we make sure it really is worth it.

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Esprit de France

Mr & Mrs Smith Hôtel collection