25 years of the Oscar-winning 'Belle Époque'

Exactly 25 years ago, Spanish director Fernando Trueba collected the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for 'Belle Époque ,' filmed in Portugal. A quarter of a century later, Casual Hoteles opened its first hotel there, specifically in Lisbon, named after the award-winning film. And what better way to do so than by recalling the filming locations?

The mansion and village in the film are located 20 kilometers from Lisbon, between Alverca and Arruda dos Vinhos, amidst hills and vineyards. Also featured are the station in Ríos, the church in Sobral de Monte Agraço, and the river in Azambuja. In 1994, the film starring Penélope Cruz, Ariadna Gil, and Jorge Sanz made history.

Today, the opening of Casual Hoteles in Lisbon with the Casual Belle Époque Lisboa hotel marks a milestone for the chain. It is the first step in its international expansion. The launch of its hotel in La Baixa , with 28 themed rooms, located on the central Rua da Madalena, is the beginning of an international expansion that will continue with other establishments in Porto and other European cities .

Fernando Trueba was looking for a location to film his Oscar-winning feature film, one that was difficult to identify and far removed from the clichés of the Spanish plateau. And he found it in Portugal. Casual Hoteles is designing a hotel in the modern center of the Portuguese capital. Surrounding it are the corporate headquarters of prominent companies and major Portuguese banks. Lisbon has established itself as an international tourist destination.

Portugal hosted the filming of 'Belle Époque,' but other Spanish directors also found the perfect location for their films there.

Imanol Uribe filmed 'Carol's Journey ' and Pilar Miró filmed 'The Dog in the Manger' there. Other foreign filmmakers chose different locations in the country for their films, such as John Malkovic in 'Dance Steps' and Roman Polanski's 'The Ninth Gate'.