{"id":452904,"date":"2024-08-28T13:46:39","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T17:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esterel.com\/?page_id=452904"},"modified":"2024-08-28T13:48:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T17:48:00","slug":"esterel-resort-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esterel.dev2.intercode.ca\/en\/esterel-resort-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Est\u00e9rel Resort\u2019s History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Travellers who come to Est\u00e9rel Resort for the first time are always in awe of this building due to its unique architecture that makes it look like a cruise ship forever anchored in the middle of the Laurentian forest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It should be noted that almost a hundred years ago the building was an integral part of one of the most ambitious resort projects in North America\u2014Domaine Est\u00e9rel\u2014a certain Belgian baron\u2019s dream. Although little known, this story left its mark and propelled Quebec\u2019s entry into modern architecture, and it deserves to be told today.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n \n \n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Baron Louis Empain\u2019s vision<\/h2>\n <\/header>\n

In the early 20th century, Belgium was one of the most developed nations in the world, and its influence had spread around the globe. A member of the Belgian nobility, Baron Louis Empain (1908-1976) was a wealthy philanthropist, entrepreneur and son of Edouard Empain, a business partner and friend of Belgian king Leopold II. His Canadian adventure began in 1935 on a study trip meant to revive Belgian economic activity in Quebec.<\/p>\n

The Baron was known for his independent and enterprising spirit, as well as his penchant for art, travel, sports and the outdoors. It was during his adventures not far from Sainte-Ad\u00e8le that he discovered a pure playground\u2014vast green expanses dotted with wooded hills whose reliefs carved out magnificent lakes that reflected a yet un-named beauty: the Masson, Nord and Dupuis lakes.<\/p>\n

The Baron was smitten and dreamed big. He acquired 3,000 acres of this land as soon as 1935, which he named \u201cDomaine Est\u00e9rel\u201d after a region on the Provencal coast that joins the Mediterranean Sea east of Var, in France. In old slang, Est\u00e9rel meant \u201cbeautiful starry sky\u201d or \u201csteep gorge\/chasm.\u201d\u00a0 Empain was already dreaming of building what would later be recognized as the first four-season resort in Quebec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n

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Antoine de Courtens\u2019s Art Deco<\/h2>\n <\/header>\n

During its first year in 1936, the vast estate was expanded to 7,000 acres and its first buildings were built. Baron Empain then called on an old friend, eminent architect Antoine de Courtens, to build what was going to be one of the first instances of modern architecture in Canada. They both preferred \u201cchic European modern\u201d over the \u201chistorical romantic\u201d architecture that was usually found in Quebec (Manoir Richelieu, H\u00f4tel Tadoussac, etc.).<\/p>\n

De Courtens, who had a natural talent for architecture, was inspired by the Belgian pavilion at the 1937 Paris World\u2019s Fair. He used an international style known as Art Deco, known for its large white concrete buildings with round, open and welcoming shapes. Art Deco was the avant-garde architectural style of 1920s and 1930s Brussels. It created a stunning contrast with the natural landscape and the Laurentian forest surrounding it.<\/p>\n

In less than two years, about 20 buildings were erected around Pointe Bleue near Masson Lake. They included North America\u2019s first shopping center, which had a Holt Renfrew, car repair shop, gas station, movie theatre, tobacco shop, ski boutique and stables.<\/p>\n

Another major element of the estate was without a doubt the Pointe Bleue Hotel, which served as the Baron\u2019s residence. It would become famous through its Blue Room, which after an opening night hosted by none other than Benny Goodman became the place to be in the Greater Montr\u00e9al area. There was also a series of log cabins where prolific Belgian author George Simenon stayed and wrote one of his most acclaimed novels: Three Bedrooms in Manhattan.<\/em><\/p>\n

The third building that was built on Domaine Est\u00e9rel was the sporting club, where Est\u00e9rel Resort currently stands and was located a little further out on the estate than the other buildings. Its ship-like architecture had living room spaces, a bar, a restaurant, a gym, a solarium, a badminton room and numerous cabins used as changing rooms.<\/p>\n

Visitors were able to go outside and enjoy the beach as well as jump off a very tall diving board, which was nicknamed \u201cthe giraffe.\u201d Watersports\u2014which were extremely popular at the time\u2014were all the rage here. In the summer of 1938, the provincial and Canadian swimming and diving championships were held there.<\/p>\n

Many other events were held there, such as interprovincial motorboat races and other weekly sailboat races. In 1939, a brand-new sport made its appearance at the sporting club: water skiing. The Monte Carlo champion even came to stay at Domaine Est\u00e9rel for a few weeks that year.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n \n \n<\/section>\n\n

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