The abandoned Solange's hotel
We received photos from a traveler and compiled them into a historical summary.
Here is a visit to an abandoned hotel that remains in a truly impressive state of preservation. The premises feel as though they’ve been petrified. Unfortunately, we have very little information regarding this establishment—which is, sadly, often the case.
The hotel was run by Solange. We’ve identified that the business ceased operations in 1996. Its beginning, however, is more obscure. Solange’s father, Joseph, already owned the building in 1937. At that time, he ran a company called "Vins et Transports"—a wholesale wine transport business. This is how he was listed by the administration on tax receipts of the era. We noticed that the establishment saw significant activity during the Second World War; numerous documents in the attic attest to this, notably German permits authorizing the transport of alcohol. Solange’s daughter, Monique, ran the Hôtel de la Poste in Langogne.
Solange’s mother was named Josette. Solange herself passed away in December 2020 in Lyon. It appears she ran the establishment for six years. We can guess it must have been a massive amount of work—early mornings and late nights. Notice how meticulously this establishment was maintained. So many superb wallpapers, incredible trimmings, and silky curtains. Even the blankets match the colors of the tapestries. It was a charming, old-fashioned hotel, the kind they don't make anymore. It sits alongside a road with heavy traffic, which was both an asset for this type of business (high visibility) and a drawback due to the pervasive noise.
We do not know exactly when Solange retired, but the hotel has certainly been abandoned for a long time—perhaps 30 years? It has suffered very little vandalism. At most, we’ve gathered that a squatter occasionally takes shelter from the weather here. He hasn't left much of a mess, if any. I invite you, therefore, to visit a hotel petrified in oblivion, shielded from adversity and vandals—a place that deserves a look of utmost respect.
Probablement Solange, qui tenait cet hôtel.
Sa sépulture. J'ai déposé des fleurs.
