Hotel Club Frances 4.52

The French Club obtained its legal status on May 20, 1866, after many years of meetings that the French residents performed at the legendary Café Malakoff, located in Buen Orden Street (Bernardo de Irigoyen today) between Victoria (now Hipólito Yrigoyen ) and Potosí (today Alsina).
In 1884 the French Chamber of Commerce was founded, being the first Foreign Trade Chamber directed by prominent businessmen established in Argentina.
We will mention some of the most prominent French settlers in the nineteenth century, who joined the French Club, Courtois Ulric Architect, builder of the Basilica of Luján,Dr. Miguel Laphitzondo, French Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Francis Simon, medic and intellectual who founded the Alliance Francaise in 1893, Dr. Joseph Linieres, President of the National Academy of Medicine, the Architect Charles Thays, Director of Parks and Walks in the City of Buenos Aires, creator of the Botanical Garden and Palermo Parks and many works in the country, the historian and journalist Paul Groussac, former Director of the National Library and many more.
From 1889 the French Club hosts celebrations of the French and Argentine
national holidays in Argentina, some of the attending were Dr. Carlos Pellegrini, as Vice President.
In 1910, the year of the Centennial of the Independence, the French Club was visited by Anatole France, Literature Nobel Prize (1921), and Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who are entertained by the Argentine-French literary world. Accompanying the Centenary celebrations of French community performs a gala reception attended by the President of the Republic Dr. Jose Figueroa Alcorta and his ministers, and the vast majority of the diplomatic corps accredited.
The French Club also receives a visit from M. Georges Clemenceau, Jean Charcot, General Clement, the Duke of Windsor -Edward VIII subsequently,Adrienne Bolland, first female aviator, Jean Mermoz first aviator to cross the Andes and in 1929 Antoine de Saint Exupery, aviator and writer.
The Club was also visited by the Prime Minister of Belgium Mr. Paul Vandeman Boeynants, the creator of Emmaus, Abbe Pierre, Antoine Pinay and Andre Malraux and a few years ago Dominique de Villepin.
Internationally renowned writers gave lectures: Jorge Luis Borges on several occasions, Octavio Paz, Mario Vargas Llosa (Nobel Prize 2010) and Pen Club members and guests of Silvina Bullrich, president of the Pen Club Argentina,
Luis Federico Leloir, Alicia Jurado, Luisa Mercedes Levinson, the Prof. Henri Laborit, Victoria Ocampo, Silvina Ocampo y Adolfo Bioy Casares, mentioning some of the most prominent, recalling the concerts performed by outstanding
performers such as pianist Pia Sebastiani and soprano Régine Crespin.
In 1941 the current French style mansion headquarters of the Club was purchased to the Vasquez Mansilla family.
Since May 9, 2003, the French Club is a founding member of the European Club, transcendental fact as an institution.
During it’s more than 140 years of history the Club has hosted personalities from politics, science, culture and sports world.
Today it is home to both Argentine and French and their descendants, those who keep the spirit of their home country and the ideals that inspired the men of 1866.