Quartier

Imagine the scene: the silence of a snowy mountain, the adrenaline at the start of an Olympic run, and that feeling of pure freedom. In the cult film La Grande Bellezza, we are reminded that elegance is a high-level sport. For the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, we wanted to have some fun: what if our favorite authors, those who inhabit the rooms of our Hôtels Littéraires, traded their pens for skis or skates?

From the pure speed of alpine skiing to the grace of figure skating, sport and reading share the same quest: the thrill. At Société des Hôtels Littéraires, we’ve been following this winter’s events closely to imagine the prize list for our authors of choice. So, who would have taken home the gold? 

 

I. Performance and Adrenaline: The Speed Events

In the world of sport as in the world of reading, everything begins with iron discipline. For these 2026 Winter Games, some disciplines require such precision that they inevitably remind us of a writer's work.

Gustave Flaubert: The Quest for the Record in Speed Skating

If you’ve ever read a page of Madame Bovary, you know that Gustave Flaubert left nothing to chance. For him, every word had to be perfect. We can easily imagine him stepping onto the Milan ice rink for a speed skating event. Why? Because it’s the sport of absolute precision, where every millisecond counts. You’ll find this same quest for the "pure line" at the Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert in Rouen.

Arthur Rimbaud: The Rebel of Snowboard Cross

For the Snowboarding events in Livigno, our champion would undoubtedly be Arthur Rimbaud. The "man with soles of wind" wasn’t one to follow marked trails. His style is about freestyle, the unexpected, and raw energy. We imagine him rushing down the slopes with wild fervor, breaking the codes of sport just as he broke the codes of poetry. For a stay full of energy before heading off to the Alps, make a stopover at the Hôtel Littéraire Arthur Rimbaud in Paris.

II. Elegance on the Summits: The Chic of Milano Cortina

The 2026 Games mark the return of the Olympics to legendary resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo and Bormio. It is the temple of chic and passion, two essential ingredients of our favorite novels.

Stendhal: The Passion of Alpine Skiing and Italy

You can’t talk about Italy without mentioning Stendhal. Madly in love with Milan, he would have been the most passionate spectator of the alpine skiing events. For him, a downhill run is like a love story: it must be fast, intense, and a little dangerous. He would have loved the electric atmosphere of the Italian stadiums. This "Italian life," full of charm and wit, is the soul of our Hôtel Littéraire Stendhal in Nancy.

Marcel Aymé: Ski Jumping or the Art of Soaring 

There is something magical about ski jumping. It is, quite simply, a man taking flight. For Marcel Aymé, the author of Le Passe-muraille (The Man Who Walked through Walls), defying the laws of physics was second nature. One can imagine him gliding above the crowds in Cortina with his signature Montmartre coolness, before landing with perfect grace. Discover this touch of poetic whimsy at the Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé in Paris.

III. Your Literary "Après-Ski": A Stay in Our Hotels

Whether you are following the 2026 Olympics from your screen or are lucky enough to watch biathlon or ice hockey live, the journey is part of the pleasure.

• In Paris: If you are taking the train to Italy, treat yourself to a dream night at Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann. We can easily imagine Marcel Proust passionately analyzing the costumes and movements of figure skating.

• In Clermont-Ferrand: For a stopover full of humor, go to Hôtel Littéraire Alexandre Vialatte. We bet Vialatte would have found the rules of curling absolutely delightful and absurd !

 

What is your favorite event? In this Olympic winter, the most beautiful victory is to escape. Whether on a ski slope or between the pages of a book, the important thing is to feel the emotion. Happy 2026 Olympics to all !