Legendary Homes & Hotels: The Ritz: A Thousand and One Lives

15 place Vendôme, 1st arrondissement, Paris. It’s one of the world’s most famous addresses, that of a hotel that marked the history of luxury hotels: the Ritz.

Built by César and Marie-Louise Ritz, who regarded the hotel as their daughter, giving women and modernity their rightful place. From 1898 to the present day, history has been written within these walls, from Marcel Proust to Winston Churchill, Beyoncé and Gabrielle Chanel, who lived here for 34 years..

Today, 550 people work year-round in this monument with its listed façade, in the heart of the capital. A benchmark of excellence and a living heritage, renovated in 2016 after four years of work by the current owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed. 

Now it’s the turn of pastry chef François Perret, Colin Field, crowned best bartender in the world, and Anne Vitchen, the lady of flowers, to continue writing the history of the place. 

A rare behind-the-scenes look at this five-star hotel.