Bernard Magrez’s La Grande Maison is a revived, 18th-century mansion with just six guest bedrooms, named Sagesse, Passion d’une Vie, Harmonie, Contemplation, Lumière and Espérance. Spanning the whole ground floor is the restaurant and bar haven by Magrez’s great friend, Joël Robuchon, who, with 28 Michelin stars globally and the title ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ is arguably the world’s most decorated chef.
The modern art throughout the boutique hotel is a continuation of that in Bernard Magrez’s Cultural Institute across the street, which, with Greco-Roman details, is something of an artwork in itself. This was originally built as a luxury escape for two brothers in the printing business, and today features a mélange of intriguing works, from those by the pun-laden mischievous street artist Miss.Tic alongside Andy Warhol (Ai Wei Wei has also exhibited here). The original desk of Bernard Magrez is also on display – a reminder of where things began in business terms for the Magrez dynasty in 1962.
The collection continues in an adjoining pavilion where one of the most refined classical musicians of his generation, Nicolas Dautricourt played Bernard Magrez’s Stradivarius ‘Château Fombrauge’ – Sibelius, Schumann and Sebastian Bach – as lead act of a ‘Music for the Brain’ concert fundraiser for ‘neuroepidemiology’.
In a region so famed for its fine wine, Bernard Magrez and family have provided, in La Grande Maison, a luxury platform for discerning guests to discover the best of Bordeaux, in terms of wine – Magrez owns no fewer than four Grand Cru Classé, culture and comfort.
