Small seminars, board meetings and private cocktail evenings for up to 40 people can be held at the Grand Hôtel Français, a 35-room hotel set in an 18th-century mansion in central Bordeaux. Two meeting salons and a cocktail bar can be booked, and the size of the house suits groups that want to work and sleep under one roof in the city center.
Seminars and company events
The hotel sells meeting space for groups from a handful of people to about 40. The Salon Merlot takes up to 20 participants, which fits a board meeting, a training session or a management committee. The Salon Malbec takes up to 40 and has daylight, so it works for a full day of presentations or a workshop. The hotel describes both salons as modular and equipped. Ask for the exact audiovisual list and the layouts available when you send your request, since the website does not detail them.
The Bar Casa, the hotel's cocktail bar, can also be reserved for up to 40 guests. It is a natural place for a drink after a seminar day, a product presentation in a relaxed setting or a team aperitif. The hotel also takes privatization requests for other kinds of events.
Rooms and capacities
Three spaces are listed on the official site. The Salon Merlot holds up to 20 people. The Salon Malbec holds up to 40 people and has natural light. The Bar Casa holds up to 40 people in a cocktail format. Surface areas and seating plans are not published, so confirm theatre, classroom or boardroom numbers with the team before you plan the day.
Accommodation
The hotel has 35 bedrooms, so a group of around 30 participants can often stay on site. One room is adapted for guests with reduced mobility, and cribs are available on request. Breakfast is served every morning from 6:30 to 10:30, and it can be brought to the room for a supplement. For a two-day seminar, this keeps the group together from the first coffee to the last session.
Catering
The website does not describe a restaurant. Breakfast is served daily and the Bar Casa serves cocktails in the evening. For lunches, coffee breaks or dinners during a seminar, ask the hotel what it can arrange. Central Bordeaux has many restaurants within walking distance for a group dinner.
History and setting
The building is an hôtel particulier, a private town mansion, dating from the 18th century, the period when Bordeaux built much of the stone architecture that defines its center today. The hotel stands at 12 rue du Temple, in the heart of the city. The salons take their names from two grape varieties, Merlot and Malbec, a nod to the wine region around the city. Groups can combine a working day with a walk through the old town or a tasting at one of the nearby estates.
Getting there
Bordeaux Saint-Jean is the city's main train station, with direct high-speed trains from Paris. From the station, the tram and taxis reach the center quickly. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport serves domestic and European routes. The hotel states that it is accessible to people with disabilities.
