In 1874, in Athens with its 64,000 inhabitants, where King Otto resided and there were magnificent architectural mansions, before even acquiring a network of infrastructure, the visionary entrepreneur Efstathios Lampsas first operated the “Grand Bretagne” hotel on Syntagma Square. Very soon, the luxurious accommodation was deemed equivalent if not superior to many hotels in Europe. Decades later, with its reputation greatly enhanced, the newspapers of the time reported: “The ‘Grand Bretagne’ has evolved into the most beautiful, pleasant, and civilized meeting point for both Greeks and foreigners visiting the Greek capital.” Since the late 19th century, when international tourism and advertising of the country didn’t exist for Greece, this hotel promoted both.

European elegance and luxury brought a Belle Époque atmosphere to the city, with the Lampsas couple introducing Athens to the art of the table, with top-quality crystal and porcelain from abroad. At the same time, they pioneered leaps in modernization. For example, the building of the “Grand Bretagne” was one of the first in Greece to have electric power, in 1888, by 1930 all its rooms had private bathrooms, and in 1936 it became the first fully air-conditioned hotel in Europe.

(Elizabeth Taylor with her then-husband Mike Todd, official guests at a reception hosted by Xenophon Zolotas on 3/2/1958)

As it is said for landmark hotels like this one, if they could, they would have thousands of stories to tell. Many of the significant events of modern Greece either originated or happened there. During the German occupation, the “Grand Bretagne” operated as the headquarters of the conquerors, while in 1944 it served as the seat of the first free government of Greece. Situations and governments changed, but the majestic hotel stood proudly at the busiest point of the city overlooking the Acropolis, right across from the Temple of Democracy, the Hellenic Parliament.

(Sophia Loren visited Greece for the filming of “Boy on a Dolphin” and stayed at the hotel. Here, surrounded by fans and photographers on 11/9/1956)

(The conductor Dimitris Mitropoulos with the actress Katina Paxinou. On the left, the journalist Georgios Kavounidis in the 1950s)

Heads of states, kings, businessmen, and prominent figures from all over the world who visited Athens considered their stay there self-evident. “Our goal was to create a modern and luxurious hotel, which would, however, maintain its historical character, with spaces that would commemorate the significant events that took place here and the prominent personalities that were hosted,” says the famous American interior designer Chuck Tsounis, who was entrusted by the Greek Hotels Company Lampsas S.A. with part of its radical renovation in 2003. “No matter how much luxury a visitor seeks, when choosing an iconic hotel for their stay, it is because they want to be part of its history. And when a hotel represents the place where it is located and its history, it acquires a unique identity, which becomes part of its branding.

(Alain Delon at the “Grand Bretagne” in the 1990s)

(Odysseas Elytis at the press conference on 18/10/1979, when he was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature)

Few hotels have been such a significant part of the social life of a place as this one. In its guest book are recorded some of the greatest names of all time, people of intellect, elegant aristocrats, famous divas, and powerful magnates who enjoyed glasses of rare cognac or their exquisite cigars in its salons.

(Eleftherios Venizelos is photographed at the “Grand Bretagne” in 1924. The Cretan politician resided at the hotel for long periods of time)

On Vasileos Georgiou Street, where the façade of the building is “visible,” was a haunt of the paparazzi, as they knew that from the gate of the hotel would pass on a daily basis well-known figures from the Greek and international scene. The most historic photograph-treasure is the one where Eleftherios Venizelos is captured in a room of the “Grand Bretagne” in 1924. The Greek politician resided at the hotel for long periods of time and was closely associated with its owners. Also, the great maestro Dimitris Mitropoulos appears in an instant together with the priestess of art Katina Paxinou, under the gaze of the journalist of the time, Georgios Kavounidis.

In 1956, it becomes the center of global interest and is flooded by photographers. Sophia Loren is in Greece for the filming of “Boy on a Dolphin” and has checked into the “Grand Bretagne.” A year later, the Greek opera diva comes to Athens and chooses the best suite at the “Grand Bretagne” for her stay. It’s August, Athens is surrendered to the hot sun and heat, but Maria Callas is happy, as some evenings she spends in the company of Aristotle Onassis.

(During the period 1994-1998, the author Vasilis Vasilikos and his associates gathered at the “GB Corner” for the preparation of his show “Axion Esti” on ERT)

(Costume ball of the playwrights on February 24, 1957: Vasilis Logothetidis, Ilias Livykou, Jenny Karezi, Lambros Konstantaras, Alekos Sakellarios, Spyros Melas)