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The history of the Hotel
Majestic started in 1918 when its predecessor, the Hotel Inglaterra,
moved from Barcelona's Calle Fontanella to Passeig de Gràcia. The move
was accompanied by a change of name (after that it was the Majestic
Hotel Inglaterra) and a change of proprietor (Martín Casals Galcerán
became its new owner).
Very soon the new establishment, with a total of 100 rooms by that time,
became one of the most prestigious hotels in the city.
In 1940 it was decided to call the Hotel Majestic Inglaterra just the
Hotel Majestic, but it wasn't until the seventies that the hotel
underwent a true transformation: it was joined to a contiguous building
and a new building, increasing its occupancy to 340 rooms. In 1994 the
Soldevila Casals family (the proprietor family, now in its third
generation, is still at the head of the hotel) undertook the Majestic's
latest major reform culminating in 1999. The result is an up-to-date,
modern hotel that still manages to preserve the spirit that has set it
apart for it’s over 80 years of history. Every room in the Hotel Majestic has
been carefully designed and decorated. Here the guests will find maximum
comfort and quiet. And what's more, guests can enjoy the Majestic's
premiere luxury: its exclusive views over the Paseo de Gracia.
The Hotel Majestic has been known in artistic circles as "the Art Hotel"
ever since it hosted the prestigious, fantastically successful show "New
Art" in 1996 and 1997. The proprietors' interest in the art world dates
back to many years before that, however. The collection displayed
throughout the hotel is one result of their interest. This collection
features significant artists from the historic vanguards, such as
Tàpies, Saura, Chillida, Guinovart, Cobo, Ràfols Casamada and Gerardo
Rueda, as well as top names from the eighties such as Llimós, Lluis
Lleó, Miguel Angel Campano, García Sevilla and Plensa. The contemporary
art collection is rounded out with a wide-ranging set of works by
artists of the nineties backed by the most prestigious national and
international galleries. Furthermore, there are the major collections of
engravings by Anish Kapoor, Richard Long and Richard Deacon, just one
more example of the innumerable works from different movements and
styles that the visitor can discover with each step in every corner of
the hotel. |
