In some ways, it’s hard to imagine that the Bugatti Veyron came along to blow the doors off every other car out there two whole decades ago, given just how advanced it was for the time, but that’s exactly how long it’s been since this marvel of engineering earned its way into the history books.
To celebrate this milestone 20th birthday of the iconic hypercar, Bugatti hosted an exclusive driving tour for Veyron owners in and around the French town of Molsheim, right where the brand’s factory is.
Coinciding with the annual Bugatti Festival, held over the weekend of company founder Ettore Bugatti’s birthdate of 15 September 1881, ‘Le Petit Tour’ saw a group of esteemed owners treated to luxury accommodation and dining – and far more importantly, a driving tour of the Alsace region – to pay tribute to Ferdinand Piëch’s vision for what became the Veyron.
This tour saw the Veyron convoy journey through a majestic loop of the Vosges mountains, offering the open roads and breathtaking vistas befitting of the world’s first hypercar.
After linking up with the Bugatti Club in the grounds of Château Saint Jean, the Veyron convoy first set off from Molsheim into a picture-perfect route that led them to the 12th century Château de Haut Barr, making for quite the lunch stop.
Renowned as the ‘Eye of Alsace’, towering above the surrounding plain, it is a site steeped in majesty and rich in culture – representing the ideal venue to celebrate the cuisine and history of a region in which Bugatti has become deeply rooted.
Following this, the Veyron drivers could revel in the capabilities of their vehicles in a cruise across the Vosges, threading through forest routes to arrive at a country haven of relaxation and refreshment that holds special significance in Bugatti’s story.
The magnificent Villa René Lalique, constructed by René Lalique in 1920, stands testament to the quality and preciousness that drew his world-famous house of glassmaking to Bugatti.
Clearly showcased in pieces such as the beautiful crystal-glass tribute to Rembrandt Bugatti’s Dancing Elephant, values of traditional craftsmanship and exceptional creativity shared by both brands has yielded works of clear finesse and elegance – an enduring quality that defines the allure of the Veyron through to this day.
From there, the tour looped back through striking French country roads to Château Saint Jean where guests were awaited by a cocktail reception within the Château and a banquet in the verdant Orangerie.
Only dialling up the luxurious experience even more, the Opéra de Strasbourg performed a three-act opera, thus fully bringing to life Piëch’s vision of a vehicle fit for hypercar performance during the day and a majestic drive to the opera in the evening.
“At such a special time of the year for our brand, the opportunity to pay tribute to 20 years of Veyron, and the passion of our customers that continue to uphold its legend, marks a poignant moment in Bugatti’s story,” says Christophe Piochon, president of Bugatti Automobiles.
“An audacious feat of automotive engineering, creating an entirely new segment, pushing the boundaries of what was deemed achievable – everything the Veyron represents brings together Bugatti owners and enthusiasts around the world.
“Le Petit Tour in the heart of Bugatti’s homeland is an exceptional way to celebrate its achievements, and the legacy of passion and inspiration that it continues to drive.”
