The Grand Hôtel du Markstein, which became the first ski resort in the Vosges mountains in the post-war years (1914-1948), has a fascinating history. It was thanks to the initiative of Mr. Adolphe Schlumberger, an industrialist from Guebwiller, that this ambitious project came to fruition.
The idea was to build a high-standard hotel, the famous Grand-Hôtel, as well as a second establishment, the Hôtel Belle-Vue, with the aim of attracting an upscale clientele and competing with world-renowned palaces such as those in Chamonix and St-Moritz in Switzerland.
The construction of these hotels was a monumental task, carried out with pickaxes and shovels, over a period extending from 1927 to 1930. These establishments would become emblematic landmarks of the region, offering luxury and comfort to visitors seeking escape in the magnificent mountain landscapes of the Vosges.
The turbulent history of the Grand Hôtel du Markstein continues with its acquisition by the Alsace-Lorraine Pension Fund, which operated it sporadically. Subsequently, the hotel was occupied by the German army during the Second World War. After the end of hostilities, the Alsace-Lorraine Pension Fund merged with the SNCF (French National Railway Company), and the hotel was converted into a camp for apprentices, but this venture was unsuccessful, and the hotel was once again abandoned.
In 1950, a shelter called ABRI was created on the hotel premises to provide refreshments for tourists. However, this venture proved unprofitable, and ABRI remained closed for many years. Around 1960, the Tourism and Work Association, under the auspices of the CGT (General Confederation of Labour), purchased the Grand Hotel with the aim of creating a Popular Holiday Center. Despite increasing the accommodation capacity to 300 beds, the outdated facilities made it difficult to operate the Center, which eventually declined.
Faced with this situation, the association created a real estate company (SCI) with the collaboration of several works councils, some of which were large national organizations, such as Air France. An ambitious modernization plan was implemented, including the construction of an indoor swimming pool. The SCI's objective was to transform the Grand Hôtel into a center halfway between a hotel and a holiday village, offering 375 beds, comfortable rooms, a restaurant, a bar, as well as activity, conference, and relaxation rooms, in addition to a cross-country ski school.
After its inauguration in May 1972, the LES CRETES Holiday Village enjoyed a prosperous decade, marked by a young and dynamic team and regional management that integrated the village into an ecological and social context. Between 1973 and 1985, the hotel welcomed between 800 and 1000 young people and retirees each year, but unfortunately, it operated at a loss.
Several factors contributed to this situation, including the failure of insurance companies to continue investments and the public's disaffection with social tourism. Furthermore, management errors were made, notably the loss of support from the CGT, the main supplier of TOURISME ET TRAVAIL, which was transformed into TOURISTA, a company managed by a CEO.
Despite full occupancy in July-August 1987, the necessary investments to bring the establishment up to safety standards were not made, which led to the decision by the Regional Safety Commission to effectively close LES CRETES on June 19, 1994.
The revitalization project, which required significant investment from public authorities and co-owners, unfortunately failed. Consequently, the hotel was purchased by a property developer from Mulhouse, who plans to convert it into holiday apartments.
