L'Auberge du Père Bise reinvents itself on the shores of Lake Annecy
Ten years after its takeover by Jean and Magali Sulpice, the Auberge du Père Bise unveils a major transformation. The gourmet restaurant, reception areas and new living spaces have all been redesigned.
On the shores of Lake Annecy, the familiar silhouette of theAuberge du Père Bise (4 toques) now conceals radically redesigned spaces. Ten years after taking over this emblematic house in Talloires, Jean and Magali Sulpice unveil a new phase: a comprehensive rethinking of the premises, designed to assert its identity and adapt its uses, without breaking with its history.
A transformation in continuity
Jean and Magali Sulpice, who have been at the helm of this Savoyard institution for a decade, have embarked on a major renovation project that includes the gastronomic restaurant, reception areas, bar, boutique and a new seminar room.
To bring this project to fruition, they teamed up with architect Antoine Ricardou (ASL Architecture, Paris and New York). Together, they favored a sober approach, attentive to materials and light, far from any formal demonstration. The spaces are structured by a variety of wood species, with fir-green tones recalling the surrounding vegetation. Everywhere, the eye is guided towards the lake, the central element of the composition.
The gourmet restaurant, a refuge overlooking the lake
The restaurant has been redesigned as an enveloping, almost monastic space. A wooden corridor marks the transition to the dining room. Light oak adorns walls and ceiling, while Savoy blue marble punctuates certain spaces. The whole creates a hushed atmosphere that frames the landscape.
This architecture echoes the chef's Alpine cuisine, renowned for its precise use of local plants, herbs and produce. The use of raw, unostentatious materials is in keeping with the same logic of purity. "Creating your own identity, knowing where you are and where you're going, is something you build over time, through encounters, through the bond you create with your territory. Today, I feel ready to offer a more personal and unique experience. With architect Antoine Ricardou, we designed this contemporary retreat in line with my kitchen: we sublimated raw materials in the same way I do with the products on my plate. A lot of purity, a lot of sincerity. The aim is not to be performance-driven, but emotional," says Jean Sulpice.
L'Auberge, a rediscovered spirit of home
alongside the gourmet restaurant, the Auberge in the true sense of the word has regained a central place. The entrance has been redesigned to offer a warmer, more open welcome, still facing the lake. The new bar is a living space, punctuated by a "wall of fame" recounting the history of the house and the chef's career, as well as an herbal tea room echoing his work with plants.
New features also include a white-tiled pantry, designed as a living space: breakfast facing the lake in the morning, sweets and local produce the rest of the day. The adjoining boutique has been completely renovated to offer in-house specialties and selected products.
Local craftsmanship and new uses
The transformation drew on the expertise of local craftsmen. The reception furniture and room keys, designed by Lauriane Josselin, are inspired by mountain cairns, reinterpreted in wood. At the bar, a line of stained glass created by Annécian stained glass artist Magali Aubier evokes the mountain range that frames the lake and filters the Alpine light.
Another notable development is the creation of a 50 m² seminar room, located on the garden side. Independent yet benefiting from the services of the house, it meets a growing demand for professional events in a natural, soothing setting.
L'Auberge du Père Bise continues to evolve from a contemporary refuge to a family home open to the landscape. Ten years after their arrival, Jean and Magali Sulpice are affirming a coherent vision, where architecture, cuisine and hospitality are in close dialogue with Lake Annecy.
