What are the most legendary hotels in France?

The Hotel du Palais, in Biarritz

This emblematic palace of the Basque coast, which overlooks the great beach of Biarritz from the Avenue de l'Impératrice, was once the former imperial residence of Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo. This brick and stone building, built as early as 1854 in the Louis XIII style, was destroyed in a fire at the beginning of the 20th century, but rebuilt and extended. The original style and layout, in the shape of an E like Eugenie, have been preserved. For those who are not staying at the hotel, it is still possible to have a meal, tea or drink.

Le Corbusier Hotel, Marseille

In the heart of the Cité Radieuse, this is the only hotel in the city of Marseille to be located in a UNESCO World Heritage building. With their view of the sea and/or the Frioul islands, the rooms are designed in the architect's universe: vintage, colourful and spacious. The restaurant room where you can come for lunch or dinner is not to be outdone, with its tables signed Charlotte Perriand, its Scandinavian chairs, as well as the "Laroche" lamps by Le Corbusier or "Pipistrelle" by Gaetana Aulenti.

The Montenvers Refuge, in Chamonix

Built in 1880 to accommodate the first mountaineers who set out to conquer the Mer de Glace, this refuge, which rises to an altitude of more than 1,900 metres, has seen many travellers since it opened. Accessible via the Montenvers train, which takes you up to the hut in about 30 minutes, this charmingly old-fashioned hotel has a dormitory and rooms. In the heart of the Chamonix valley, it offers a breathtaking view of the Mer de Glace, the Drus and the Grandes Jorasses. Without staying here, you can enjoy the mountain cuisine of the 2 restaurants.

La Colombe d'Or, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence

This artists' haunt, which has seen celebrities such as Yves Montand and Simone Signoret, Lino Ventura, Serge Reggiani and Fernand Léger, was founded at the end of the First World War as "Chez Robinson", a café-bar whose terrace was transformed into a dance floor at weekends. Little by little, the establishment became an inn, the façade was built with the stones of an old castle inAix-en-Provence, and a chimney was even erected, with the prints of those who participated in its construction. Works by Braque, Calder and Matisse are still on display.

The Negresco, in Nice

It was on the mythical French Riviera, at 37 Promenade des Anglais in Nice, that the Negresco was born in 1913, named after its designer, Henri Negrescu. Just before the war, the hotel was already attracting politicians and artists from all over the world. A reputation which does not weaken, since even today, after more than one hundred years of history, the Negresco remains a place of holiday very appreciated by the international jet set.

The Hotel Martinez, in Cannes

Inaugurated in 1929, in the middle of the Roaring Twenties, the Hotel Martinez and its immaculate white façade overlook the Croisette in Cannes. Fans of beautiful cars will not remain insensitive to the incessant parade of luxury cars in front of the entrance, especially during the Cannes festival. Don't hesitate to take a look inside, to discover the Art Deco inspiration of the place.

The Molitor Hotel, in Paris

What started out as an emblematic swimming pool in the capital opened its doors the same year as the Martinez Hotel in Cannes, in 1929. The swimming pool completed an already dynamic sports complex in the 16th arrondissement, with the Parc des Princes, the Stade Jean Bouin and Roland Garros. Soon, many ephemeral events took place outside the two pools, in a festive atmosphere. Closed in 1989, the listed building became a hotel in 2014, while retaining its primary role as a pool. Add to this a restaurant, a bar and a rooftop open to all, as well as a spa.

The Grand Hotel Cabourg, in Normandy

Fans of Marcel Proust's prose may know that there was one place the writer was particularly fond of in Cabourg: the Grand Hotel, where he stayed regularly between 1907 and 1914, always in room 414 on the 4th floor. On the seafront, the Belle Epoque-style building is full of references to the author, starting with its "Balbec" restaurant, named after the imaginary town described by Proust in A la recherche du temps perdu. The ideal place to come and enjoy a plump madeleine!

The Cap-Eden-Roc hotel, in Cap d'Antibes

Facing the Mediterranean and the Lérins Islands, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020, embodies the quintessence of the Riviera. It is here, at the very tip of the Cap d'Antibes, that the greatest names in art, as well as businessmen and political elites from all over the world, have been meeting for a century and a half. A lunch at the hotel is an opportunity to capture the beauty of this place, which F. Scott Fitzgerald used as a setting for his novel Tender is the Night - "a grand, pink-plastered hotel standing proudly on the charming shores of the Riviera"...

The Normandy, in Deauville

Completely renovated in 2016, the Normandy hotel - Serge Gainsbourg's favourite palace - has retained its charming half-timbered façade. This is where Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in 1913, and where Claude Lelouch directed Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant in the film "Un homme et une femme", which has a suite named after them. Families can enjoy a meal at the restaurant La Belle Epoque, which serves typical Norman cuisine.

The Ritz, Paris

This majestic palace on Place Vendôme, opened at the very end of the 19th century in a former private mansion, has been listed as a historical monument since 1930. Many personalities have stayed here, including Coco Chanel, who had her flats here, Marcel Proust and Ernest Hemingway. It was also at the Ritz that Lady Di was last seen, before the car accident that cost her her life. Treatments, tea time and various catering options are available to guests outside the hotel... for a more than luxurious escape in the heart of the capital.

The Nord-Pinus hotel, in Arles

A true monument of the city of Arles, in the same way as its arenas or its amphitheatre, the Nord-Pinus hotel has seen Jean Cocteau, Edith Piaf and Picasso pass through. Today, it is between two walks during the "Rencontres de la photo", or after a visit to the Van Gogh Foundation that one sits down at the hotel bar to enjoy a small yellow wine, as Fernandel did in his time.

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