Smoke on the water: Fire disaster for Evian

The delightful French town of Evian-les-Bains is known both for its mineral springs and its grand, historic casino.

Opened in 1912, the casino is Evian's most iconic building, located on the French side of Lake Geneva, just across from Lausanne in Switzerland.

Earlier this month, however, the spa town's casino was engulfed by a devastating fire, just two years after a major renovation had been completed on the complex, new hub Travel Mole reports.

The building, a Belle Époque masterpiece, has long served as a cultural and social hub for visitors drawn to Évian’s famous thermal waters.

For over a century, it has received aristocrats, high society and international gamblers.

The structure is crowned with a Byzantine-inspired dome, which firefighters managed to save in a dramatic effort involving 130 personnel.

The blaze began in a restaurant roof and quickly spread to the casino, threatening the emblematic dome.

The fire, fuelled by strong winds, prompted the evacuation of around 100 people, including staff, guests, and nearby residents.

Firefighters battled the flames for more than 10 hours, focusing on preserving the dome.

“Our priority was to vent the hot gases accumulating under the roof, which is heavily insulated and acts like a lid,” explained Commander Jean-Noël Chapuis of Sdis Haute-Savoie to French news station FranceInfo.

But the complex’s gaming halls, administrative areas, and dining sections were largely destroyed.

The casino fire happened the year Evian is welcoming the G7 Summit to be held from June 15-17.

The conference will go ahead at the nearby Hôtel Royal.

Image: Travel Mole  

Major milestone for a hotel with a 200-year history

 

One of Tasmania's most historic hotels will celebrate a milestone next year.

Luxury boutique hotel The Woodbridge Tasmania will mark the riverside building's 200th year in early 2025.

The Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency The Honourable Barbara Baker AC and other dignitaries have been invited to mark the occasion at the grand mansion on February 2.

Hand built by convicts in 1825, on the riverbank at New Norfolk as a home for the first Constable/Magistrate of the fledgling colony, The Woodbridge is one of Australia's oldest historic houses.

Now a private hotel, The Woodbridge takes guests back in time to the colonial era - and it is just 30 minutes from Hobart.

Restored by Laurelle and John Grimley, who bought the property in 2003, the heritage-listed mansion was in a state of disrepair when the Grimleys first set eyes on it.

The couple stumbled upon the derelict Derwent Valley icon during a Tasmanian holiday.

" I am a Duchess of Duke Street and Downton Abbey tragic," says "and have seen the BBC series Pride and Prejudice so often that I can quote it verbatim!"

The Woodbridge offers delightful river views, a rich history, and a relaxed style.

Guests are well located to visit nearby Mount Field National Park, wineries including Derwent Estate and Stefano Lubiana, and just a 10-minute stroll to The Agrarian Kitchen for a long lunch.

The entire project was funded by the Grimleys personally without any government or Heritage funding.

"We realised that if The Woodbridge was to have a future, then it had to be able to pay its way," Laurelle said. 

"So we tried to combine the historical elements of The Woodbridge with the modern amenity required by today's guests."

For more info visit www.woodbridgenn.com.au