History
120 years of history
A whole history unfolds here... This former coaching inn was first opened in Sainte Foy Tarentaise in 1888. It was previously kept by the Arpin family for 5 generations. The Hotel le Monal is managed today by its proprietor, Yves Marmottan, and his daughter Hélène, and enthusiastically maintains a tradition of hospitality.
120 years of history
A whole history unfolds here... This former coaching inn was first opened in Sainte Foy Tarentaise in 1888. It was previously kept by the Arpin family for 5 generations. The Hotel le Monal is managed today by its proprietor, Yves Marmottan, and his daughter Hélène, and enthusiastically maintains a tradition of hospitality.
In the ‘60’s, Michel Arpin (Member of the French ski team, took part in the 1968 Olympics, coach to Jean Claude Killy and a friend of Lionel Terray), with his brother Guy Arpin gave the place a strong mountain identity with a connection to skiing.
Guy, as well as being a talented skier, was passionate about music. So, the hotel was a convivial meeting place thanks to Odette’s welcome and Guy and his friends’ tunes on the accordion.
Guy, as well as being a talented skier, was passionate about music. So, the hotel was a convivial meeting place thanks to Odette’s welcome and Guy and his friends’ tunes on the accordion.
1888
Originally, where the hotel now stands was an old country inn founded and kept by Anastase Empereur and his wife Marie Arnaud. This former coaching inn was a popular meeting place which resisted the ravages of time and was miraculously spared by the war-time bombing in 1940.
1906
In was Hortense, their daughter, assisted by her husband Adolphe Stanislas Arpin who took over the business. She was followed by her son Marius and his wife, Herminie. Marius divided his time between the bistrot and the family farm.
1914
The hotel was to be demolished for rebuilding. Marius died a year after the beginning of the War in Souchy,the Pas de Calais, leaving his widow Herminie alone with her three children. Armed with just her courage, she decided to go ahead with the work and succeeded in completing it thanks to her own tenacity and the help of her friends.
The inn then became the Hotel Arpin and its clientele grew. Passing trade turned into holiday trade, with guests staying for two or three weeks even for a month. Adolphe, her father-in-law, was to help Herminie until his death in 1925. Ida and Noémie, her two daughters, were also to help her while her son Fernand was to take over the family farm instead.
The inn then became the Hotel Arpin and its clientele grew. Passing trade turned into holiday trade, with guests staying for two or three weeks even for a month. Adolphe, her father-in-law, was to help Herminie until his death in 1925. Ida and Noémie, her two daughters, were also to help her while her son Fernand was to take over the family farm instead.
1925
Fernand married Adèle Empereur. Their union bore three children: Guy, Arlette and Michel.
1930
The fifteen rooms and the dining room already hosted the precursors of the skiing business. The tone was set. Passionate about skiing, Guy Arpin was part of the French team from 1951 to 1956 to be followed by his brother who was in the national team from 1956 to 1966. Michel was to train a promising young skier called Jean Claude Killy… on Herminie’s death, it was the turn of Ida and her sister Noémie accompanied by her partner Francis Recordon, Mayor of Sainte Foy, who looked after the establishment.
1969
Guy Arpin and his wife Odette took over the hotel.
1972
In the spring, the hotel was demolished once again and rebuilt to two-star standards. It was to be renamed Hotel «the Monal» when it re-opened in December 1972. Guy and Odette were to put their stamp on the business through a friendly welcome in the spirit of a family pension. Odette and Guy were to hand over to their daughter Catherine and her husband Yves Marmottan who became the sole proprietor in 1997.
Today
After a recent renovation of its twenty rooms and the dining room and the opening of the cellar, the hotel now offers all the comfort and quality of classic hotel facilities and has been awarded three chimneys and two «marmites» by «Logis de France». Yves Marmottan has been joined by his daughter Hélène, the 6th generation in this great history.
