Hôtel des Templiers Collioure
Hotel Review
My quick hotel review for those in a hurry:
A landmark and cultural history monument in of itself, the Hotel des Templiers can rightly have a claim to fame that it helped shape and build Collioure’s artistic culture in the early 20th Century.
What’s it like?
Hotel des Templiers is an old-fashioned classic bed & breakfast slap bang in the middle of Collioure with views of the Castle.
The rooms are clean, simple, small and retain their original finishes and have double glazing and air conditioning.
My Deep Dive Review of Hôtel des Templiers Collioure Hotel
What connects Pablo Picasso, Eduard Pignon, Andre Derain, Aristide Maillol, Willy Mucha, Raol Dufy, Maurice Chevalier, Edith Piaf, Pierre Brune, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Léopold Survage, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Antonio Machado, Patrick O’Brien, Saint Saens and Rostropovich?
These artists all spent time at the bar, restaurant and hotel that is Les Templiers…
From the 1920s until as late as the 1970s, the Hotel des Templiers was really a cultural hub and helped to put Collioure on the artistic map – as well as being a watering hole for thirsty artists to debate and laugh into the early hours.
All the myriad of paintings – 2000 works in total – are almost littered around the restaurant, bar and hotel – spread out across every corridor, stairway and bedroom.
How did this all happen?
It all began in 1925 when René Pous and his wife, Pauline, decided to take over this small family business from his mother.
Back then, it was just a much smaller bar that was first called Maison Fontano and then called Café de Sports and it basically served as a cafe, restaurant and hotel all rolled into one – much as it does to this day.
Pauline Pous was the cook in the kitchen whilst the whole family and their close friends pitched in to run the place and René Pous acted as maître d'hôtel.
Rene had been at school with Henri Matisse’s children (see my article on Matisse in Collioure here) and enjoyed the company of artists and really fostered and welcomed artists to the bar for over forty years and it gradually became a home from home for many painters and sculptors.
Rene’s son, Jojo, was born in 1927 and soon worked at the Hotel as a teenager and worked at the Templiers for his entire life. By the 1970s, Rene passed the stewardship of the hotel to Jojo and his first wife, Therese, who then bought adjoining properties and expanded the hotel and restaurant.
Today, the Hotel des Templiers is still family owned and led by Manée Pous and her daughter and granddaughter, Julie, who are keeping the adventure alive at this historic hotel.
How did so many paintings end up at the Hotel des Templiers?
The beginning of the Templiers collection begins with Rene Pous who had such a passion for art and artists. Surrounded by artists, he started to collect their paintings – buying some and trading some for lodging and food and being gifted by others.
There are over 2000 paintings to be found literally everywhere you look at the Hotel des Templiers – if only more hotels took a leaf out of their book.
Famous lines from the Hotel des Templiers Visitors Book:
“Collioure without sails is a night without stars”
— Raoul Dufy
“What can I add to this book that would not be banal. Alas, I cannot paint and that I regret. So I am happy to write “with all my heart”.
— Edith Piaf
The secret art gallery in Hotel des Templiers
Everyone knows about the Impressionist paintings down the bar of Hotel des Templiers Collioure, but did you know that the hotel is away with paintings everywhere you go – 2000 paintings - in all the corridors wherever you look, the stairways and the rooms of course. The hotel could easily do tours of their collection!
But, what about the hotel rooms themselves?
The room is small, but quiet, despite being on the main thoroughfare going down to the beachfront and a classic French bed & breakfast with bag fulls of art history thrown in.
What I liked about Hotel des Templiers:
Bedroom: I loved the original features of the room and the painting and the little touches like the painted bed head frame. It conjures up images of a different time and it shows a passion from its owners for the hotel.
I also liked the creature comforts like A/C, windows that open and plugs by the beds and Hotel des Templiers ticks all these boxes. It’s also well priced for how central it is and includes a nice continental French breakfast.
Bathroom: The bathroom is simple and straightforward with a hairdryer by the mirror, sliding door for privacy, the shower was quite strong and toilet had a toilet brush (for some reason, many hotels do not these days).
What I liked less about Hotel des Templiers:
There’s no tea or coffee available in the room and no refrigerator. Also, not much space for luggage.
Everything you wanted to know about Hotel des Templiers, but were too afraid to ask!
I personally viewed Hotel des Templiers and made full notes on everything you could possibly want to know about the hotel:
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24 rooms in the main hotel and 16 rooms in the Annex on Rue de la République.
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3pm / 11am
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Open for almost all of the year.
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No parking available.
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Baby cots are available – free of charge.
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Pets are allowed and are free of charge – impressive!
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Not possible due to stairs going up to lifts and no disabled friendly bedrooms.
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Duvet – Thin
Pillow – Medium to Hard
Bed - 150cm x 190cm
Tea/Coffee – No
Mini Bar – No
Coat Hangers – Not Removable
Bed Lighting – Both Sides
A/C – Yes
Windows – Openable
TV – Yes
Ironing Board – Available
Safe – Yes
Chargers – Both Sides of Bed -
Privacy – Sliding Door
Air Freshener – No
Toilet Brush – Yes
Hairdryer – By The Mirror
Magnified Mirror – No
Toiletries – Soap
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