Our Spa area is getting a makeover: closed from 01/02/24 to 03/28/24 inclusive
Our Spa area is getting a makeover: closed from 01/02/24 to 03/28/24 inclusive

Interview with philippe bosc

The interview with Philippe Bosc proposes to discover the career of this self-taught, lover of Alsace, who built his reputation in hairdressing at home and the estate he shaped in Jungholtz.

The hotel & spa Les violettes on the heights of Soultz is nestled in an enchanting natural setting overlooking the Notre-Dame de Thierenbach basilica. Purchased in 2000 by Philippe Bosc, the establishment was completely renovated to become a place of vacation and rest appreciated for its style borrowed from Alsatian heritage and its top-of-the-range wellness area of ​​1000 m². A new swimming pool, with Dead Sea salt, will be added this year.

Hairdresser at 14

I left school at 14 and as my classmate was the son of a hairdresser, I adopted this profession. After failing the CAP hairstyle, I go to the army. At the exit, I propose to a baker friend to help him for the sale in a van in the villages. People knew that I was a hairdresser and during the tours, they asked me to do their hair at home. »

1985, first independent home hairdresser

“I declared myself an independent hairdresser in 1985 and worked in retirement homes and hospitals. For five years, I was alone doing it as a freelancer. It was super nice. The arrival of the hairdresser was a moment of joy and I was entitled to pies prepared especially for the occasion. »

1990, creation of an LLC

Given the success, Philippe Bosc decided to go further and founded a limited liability company specializing in home hairdressing. “I was having trouble finding hairdressers so I had the idea of ​​contacting the economy department of the newspaper L’Alsace to explain to them that I wanted to create jobs. They did an article and all of a sudden I got 250 calls. I was planning to recruit ten hairdressers but faced with the offer, I created 80 positions. As I had no assets, the risk taking was minimal. The success being immediate, the company’s workforce increased to 250 hairdressers the following year.

2006, sale of the Philippe Bosc group

“I had the opportunity to appear on the 8 p.m. television news with the Prime Minister at the time, Édouard Balladur, which helped to make the company known beyond its scope. After a great development throughout France, the Philippe Bosc group employed 3,500 hairdressers and 1,000 housekeepers when its founder sold it in 2006. Philippe Bosc then moved to Marrakech in Morocco where he now resides two thirds of the year. “I bought a 200-hectare olive grove there which allows me to make my own olive oil, as well as a silver and zinc lead mine. »

2000, purchase of the hotels Les violettes in Soultz and Les iris in Jungholtz

In the year 2000, the Munsch family sold the hotel Les violettes in the commune of Soultz and the Vonesch family the hotel Les iris located below, in Jungholtz. Philippe Bosc buys both to create an enchanting estate after three years of work. “Everything you see was built during the works, we only kept the walls. I chose to dress the large bar room in an Alsatian decor with period decorations and not imitations. From 2000 to 2004, I got personally involved in decoration with a passion for antiquing in auctions. »

Largest Marian pilgrimage site in Alsace.

“I wanted to give a religious connotation because the Notre-Dame de Thierenbach basilica, which is located at the bottom of the estate, is the largest Marian pilgrimage in Alsace. The legend of the place goes back very far in history. Children would have found in the stream an image of the Virgin which was fixed to a tree. Then, the monks of Murbach founded an oratory whose existence, dating back to the 8th century, has recently been attested by archaeological excavations. Later, in 1125, a young nobleman from Soultz, suffering from an incurable disease, was transported to Thierenbach, making a vow to give his possessions to the Virgin in case of recovery. Healed, he respects his wish, becomes a monk in Cluny and convinces the abbot to set up a priory in Jungholtz. The foundation was confirmed by the Bishop of Basel in 1130 and the town of Soultz endowed the priory with land in 1135 so that it could meet its needs.

2006, construction of a 1,000 m² spa

After three years, Philippe Bosc decided to build a large spa and a new hotel building. The estate, made up of the Ferme des moines (restaurant and seminars) and the Les Violettes spa hotel, is now managed by Philippe Bosc’s eldest son, Geoffrey. There are 60 rooms, a 1,000 m² spa with nine treatment cabins and two restaurants. Adriana Karembeu is godmother of the hotel and Tomi Ungerer the godfather. Other artists frequent the hotel, such as pianist Séphora Dakpogan.

2017, expansion of the wellness area

New work is planned soon with an expansion of the spa and the creation of a pool with salt from the Dead Sea. The spa will be closed during the works with an opening scheduled for later in the year.

Dermatological benefits of Dead Sea salt

The idea for a Dead Sea salt basin came from Philippe Bosc’s own experience. “I had a plantar wart that wouldn’t go away. It had happened to me when I was young and I had to operate. I ran into someone who told me about the beneficial effects of the Dead Sea so I went there and there, incredible. As soon as I set foot in the sea, I felt a benefit and four days later I was cured and decided to take the Dead Sea to Alsace. After seeing several architects who told me it was impossible, the fourth found the technical solution to create this saltwater pool. She filed the building permit which was accepted in February 2017. It will be unique in France and probably even in Europe. I will invite dermatologists to come and see the benefits of Dead Sea salt on the skin. »

The violets won in Welcome to the hotel on TF1

To crown its success, Les Violettes took part in the TF1 show Bienvenu à l’hôtel and won the final. “I was happy to honor Alsace through this program”, concludes Philippe Bosc.

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