Hôtel Ritz Paris

The Hôtel Ritz at 15 Place Vendôme in Paris, France. Located in the heart of the city, it was constructed in the early part of the 18th century as a private dwelling. The façade was designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the creator of the "mansard" roof. Converted to a luxury hotel by César Ritz, it opened on June 1, 1898. Together with the culinary talents of minority partner Auguste Escoffier, César Ritz made the hotel synonymous with opulence, service, and fine dining.

Related Topics:
Place Vendôme - Paris, France - Jules Hardouin Mansart - César Ritz - Auguste Escoffier

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The Hôtel Ritz consists of the Vendôme and the Cambon buildings with rooms facing Place Vendôme and on the opposite side, rooms overlooking its famous garden. The hotel became a favorite of many of the world's wealthiest people, with luxurious suites named for some of its notable patrons from the past. These include Ernest Hemingway, for whom a bar in the hotel was named, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo plus couturier Coco Chanel who made the Ritz her home for more than thirty years.

Related Topics:
Ernest Hemingway - F. Scott Fitzgerald - Marcel Proust - Edward VII of the United Kingdom - Rudolph Valentino - Charlie Chaplin - Greta Garbo - Coco Chanel

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The hotel was featured in the 1966 movie How to Steal a Million, with a romantic scene between Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole in front. A more comedic "role" was played in the 1991 movie Une époque formidable ("Wonderful Times"), where bums (Richard Bohringer and Gérard Jugnot) try to get a room, using an unforgettable verbal trick.

Related Topics:
1966 - How to Steal a Million - Audrey Hepburn - Peter O'Toole - 1991 - Une époque formidable - Bums - Richard Bohringer - Gérard Jugnot

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In 1979, the Ritz family sold the hotel to Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed who refurbished it and in 1988 added the Ritz-Escoffier School of French Gastronomy. The hotel was where the owner's son, Dodi Al-Fayed and his companion, Diana, Princess of Wales, had visited when employee Henri Paul drove them from the hotel and crashed in the nearby Pont de l'Alma road tunnel.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Mohamed Al-Fayed - Dodi Al-Fayed - Diana, Princess of Wales - Henri Paul

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