Hotels on the Côte d'Azur: Time Travel to the Belle Époque

The beaches of the Côte d'Azur - the Croisette in Cannes, the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the Promenade du Soleil in Menton - are lined with magnificent hotels. Their enormous façades reflect the theater-like intensity of society life. Discover some of the grands hotels and find yourself transported back in time to the richness of the Belle Epoque.

La Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (Saint Jean Cap Ferrat)

Built on the narrowest section of the Saint Jean Cap Ferrat peninsula, this palace - which dominates the Villefranche harbor on one side and the Bay of Beaulieu on the other - is one of the most beautiful historical monuments in the Côte d'Azur region. A holiday destination for the richest and most elegant families across Europe and North America, Cap Ferrat was chosen in 1905 by the Baron Ephrussi de Rothschild as the location for one of his "insane" architecture projects, inspired by the great Venician and Florentine homes built during the Renaissance.

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La Villa Grecque Kérylos (Beaulieu-sur-Mer)

Built in 1902 by Théodore Reinach, everything in this villa was designed to recreate the luxury and beauty of palaces of antiquity, all while mixing in elements of modern comfort: frescoes, mosaics, reproductions of great works of art, rare pieces of furniture. Down to the finest details, the villa recalls the decoration of ancient Greek palaces. The garden offers a splendid view of the Saint Jean Cap Ferrat peninsula and its magnificent residences. It also creates a magnificent harmony of Greek vegetation: olive trees and vines, pomegranate trees, carob trees, Acanthus, myrtle, oleander, iris, pine and cyprus trees, palm trees, and papyrus.

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La Villa Eilenroc and its Gardens (Antibes)

In 1860, it was the height of fashion for Northern European society to spend winter on the French Riviera. Consequently, Hugh-Hope Loudon - from Holland - buys land on the Cap d'Antibes to construct a luxurious residence, which would reach completion in 1867. The estate was christened Eilenroc, an anagram of Cornélie, the first name of Loudon's wife. When the property was given (furniture and all) to James Wyllis, a rich Scottish man on his way back from India, exceptional new vegetal decor was incorporated by top gardeners. A series of scented plants was created at the entrance to the rose garden. The pathway to the coastline allows visitors to walk 3.7 kilometers between the Villa Eilenroc's beaches and the Anse de la Garoupe.

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Palace Hotels and Tours Upon Request

Le Negresco in Nice

This five-star hotel is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world and is home to the only palace-museum in the city. The building, officially classified as a historical monument, houses collections retracing five centuries of art history. The styles of the most brilliant periods in French art are all represented, from Louis XIII to modern art.

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Le Westminster in Nice

One of the hotels that most represents art and culture in the South of France.

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L’Excelsior in Nice

The Hotel Nice Excelsior welcomes you in a fully renovated 19th century building. Located in the Quartier des Musiciens and just a few steps from the Promenade des Anglais and its beaches.

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Le Carlton Intercontinental in Cannes

Built in 1911 on the famous Boulevard de la Croisette, the Carlton has a magnificent view of the Bay of Cannes and enjoys a private beach and jetty.

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L’Hermitage in Monaco

Overhanging the Mediterranean Sea, this palace's atmosphere is a perfect mix of intimacy, modernity, and the Belle Epoque spirit, creating an effect of charm, elegance, and serenity.

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Le Grand Hôtel du Cap in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

This luxury hotel, built in 1908, is located at the heart of a remarkable seven-hectare garden with over 400 different plant species.

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Côte d'azur