The Villa built by René Lalique in 1920 has been reinventing itself since September 2015. Under the direction of Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique, the Villa has been transformed into a five-star hotel, with a gourmet restaurant that has been awarded two Michelin stars in January 2016, little more than three months after its opening. A showcase for Lalique’s craftsmanship and flair, Villa René Lalique offers six exclusive suites. The décor was commissioned from interior designers Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli. Romain Iltis, the Villa’s Sommelier of distinction from Alsace was awarded ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ in 2015 and ‘Meilleur Sommelier de France’ in 2012. He is in charge of the exceptional cellar – one of Europe’s finest – with over 60,000 bottles in stock. Villa René Lalique is part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection, an association of more than 569 exceptional properties worldwide. Since January 2019, the Villa has become a member of the prestigious gastronomic association “Les Grandes Tables du
Monde”.
A heartfelt tribute to the French Art de Vivre, Villa René Lalique opened its doors to the public on September 18, 2015.
To appreciate the history of Villa René Lalique, it is necessary first to
understand who René Lalique was, and what he brought to the iconic
Maison he founded.
Lalique: the very name is the stuff of legend. Lalique: symbol of light and transparency, sparkling crystal, elegantly designed jewelry, artistic tableware and precious perfume bottles. The creator of all this was visionary artist, René-Jules Lalique, born in 1860 in Ay, a hamlet in the Marne region of France. From his early youth, he took an interest in art and design. He studied to become a goldsmith and designer at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. This brilliant young prospect was immediately hired by celebrated jewellers of the day including Boucheron,
Vever and Cartier. In 1878 he moved to London for two years, attending courses at Sydenham Art College. Back in Paris, he spent four years working as a freelance designer for several jewellers before starting his own
jewellery business. From 1888, he engraved his first gold ornaments, inspired by classical antiquity and by Japonism. Already an innovator, he embellished his creations with surprising materials that broke the rules
of his day. He would mix gold and precious stones with semi-precious stones, enamel, glass, leather, horn, even mother-of-pearl. His philosophy: “Better to seek beauty than flaunt luxury.”
Founded in 1888, today Lalique is one of the leading
lights of French crystal production. Founder of the
Maison and creative genius René Lalique was first
known as the inventor of modern jewellery before
becoming a master of glassmaking. With time, the
Lalique name has become a powerful symbol of savoirfaire,
synonymous with luxury, excellence, creativity,
and an instantly recognizable style. Today, the Lalique
brand is reinventing the creative and eclectic universe
of René Lalique through contemporary creations in five
fields: decorative objects, interior design, jewellery,
fragrances and art. Lalique partners with other luxury
goods brands, as well as leading artists and designers
to create fresh, out-of-theordinary pieces that benefit
from each partner’s expertise. For nearly a century, all
Lalique crystal pieces have been made in France, at its
factory in Alsace that was built in 1921.
Lalique is making its mark as a truly timeless brand of
luxury and Art de Vivre.
SIX EXCLUSIVE SUITES
Steeped in history, the Villa was home to the
founder and his family during their stays in
Alsace. After René Lalique’s death in 1945, his
son Marc and granddaughter Marie-Claude,
continued to stay there on a regular basis. Silvio
Denz, keen to breathe new life into the house,
converted it into an exclusive hotel-restaurant. He
commissioned interior designers Lady Tina Green
and Pietro Mingarelli to carry out the refurbishment.
They are the designers of the ‘Lalique Maison‘ Art-
Deco inspired furniture and decorative accessories
collection, created in 2011 and inspired by original
René Lalique motifs. In accordance with Silvio Denz’s
wishes, the atmosphere and authenticity of the family
home has been preserved. With this in mind, the exterior
has been restored exactly as it once appeared, complete
with blue shutters, faithfully reproducing the look of the
original building. While retaining the original structure, the
designers have imagined six suites that evoke the genius of
René Lalique, down to the last detail. All different, they each
bear the name of an emblematic René Lalique creation that
harks back to a decade in the life of the master glassmaker.
The exception is the ‘Zeila’ suite, named after Marie-Claude
Lalique’s famous panther.
THE RESTAURANT
This flagship building by Mario Botta
makes no apology for being modern.
A rectangle of glass, borne on columns
of red Vosges sandstone, it forms an
extension, linked to the house by an allglass
walkway. Its four glazed sides and
plant-covered roof merge perfectly with the
six acres of glorious parkland planted with
hydrangea, chestnut, birch, beech, oak, spruce
and blue cedar trees. This superb view conveys
an irresistible sense of calm reassurance. As the
architect explains: “The history of architecture is
a history of different periods. Villa René Lalique
dates from the early 20th century and has the
character of that period. The restaurant (…) will be a
contemporary expression, sensitive to present day.”
ATTRACTIONS WITHIN REACH
OF THE VILLA
The village of Wingen-sur-Moder lies
at the heart of the Northern Vosges
Regional Nature Park. Villa René Lalique is
the perfect destination for lovers of nature,
culture, gastronomy and wine.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Le Musée Lalique – the museum built by
architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte – opened to
the public in 2011. It is a must-see attraction for
Lalique enthusiasts, beautifully encapsulating the
artist’s entire creative output. The costume jewellery
exhibited illustrates the radical new wave of jewellery
design created by René Lalique. An exceptional
large-screen video transports visitors back to the Paris
Exposition Universelle in 1900, a key date in the artist’s
life. This marked a turning point in his career as a
jeweller. There are also more than 230 perfume bottles
to admire, on loan from Silvio Denz, a great collector.
Inspired by René Lalique’s meeting with François
Coty, these perfume bottles marked the former’s
changeover from jewellery to glassmaking. Museum
tours conclude with a film outlining the different stages
in the manufacture of the legendary Bacchantes vase
and a revealing look at the exceptional craftsmanship
of the factory’s artisans.
Strasbourg – an easy hour’s drive away, or 35 minutes
by train (from Wingen-sur-Moder station). Take the
opportunity to (re)discover this city’s many and diverse
charms: from the Cathedral in Petite France by way of
the European institutions and the Palais Rohan.
Many castles and historic sites are worth stopping to
see: the troglodyte cave dwellings at Graufthal and the
castle and museum of Alsatian traditions at La Petite
Pierre.
LOCALISATION
18, rue Bellevue – 67290 – Wingen-sur-Moder – France
Five minutes from Lalique Museum and factory.
travelinsider.tips 