The Hôtel du Palais, a Villa for an Empress
Facing the Atlantic Ocean, the Hôtel du Palais has long been the jewel of Biarritz. Offering more than just an exceptional holiday, this iconic establishment invites us on a fascinating tour through history.
It was under the name of “Villa Eugénie” that the Hôtel du Palais first gained notoriety. Indeed, it was on a plot of land purchased in 1854 by Napoleon III – husband of Eugénie de Montijo – that this seafront summer villa was built. The villa hosted a procession of crowned heads until its sale in 1882 when it was transformed into a hotel-casino. Ravaged by fire in 1903, it was reborn the same year in its current E-shaped form, in homage to Empress Eugénie. Renamed the Hôtel du Palais, the institution would help make Biarritz a destination for the rich and famous from around the world. Awarded the label of “Palace de France” in 2011 and classified as a Living Heritage Company (EPV), today it remains an exceptional venue and a favourite back-drop for Hollywood filmmakers, welcoming a discerning clientele from France and abroad.
Since autumn 2018, the 5-star establishment has undergone several phases of renovation led by the Parisian interior design firm Atelier COS and heritage architect Isabelle Joly. While respecting the architecture and its history, the hotel is now divided into 86 rooms and 56 suites, ranging in size from 28 m2 to 100 m2 in the case of the Suite Royale. His-torical details have been preserved in the rooms and suites: ceiling woodwork, Napoleonic gilding and delicately coloured wall hangings. The period furniture and tapes-tries in the suites are maintained by master artisans in the hotel’s workshops. The hotel’s top floor features several rooms and suites with rounded windows and portholes, creating a marine atmosphere reminiscent of a cruise ship.
Let’s take a stroll through the hotel. At the heart of the Hôtel du Palais is La Rotonde, considered one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the world, which boasts a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. The restaurant offers delicate, generous, seasonal cuisine à la carte, from classics of French gastronomy to dishes celebrating regional produce. In the kitchen, Chef Christophe Scheller is a champion of “relaxed, bourgeois cuisine”, and enjoys revisiting quintessential French dishes with a hint of creativity, while offering the culinary theatre of dishes prepared in the dining room before the guests, from serving fine cuts of meat or fish at the table to the fiery spectacle of crêpes Suzy – reinvented by Pastry Chef Alexandre Olivier in a nod to his grandfather Raymond, the late great chef of Le Grand Véfour in Paris. Between the reception area and La Rotonde one discovers the Lounge, a vibrant space perfect for taking a break at any time. Beneath the period chandeliers, you might be tempted to lounge all day long in one of the deep banquettes, lingering over a late breakfast, enjoying a delicate grilled fish or savouring a few exquisite pastries by Alexandre Oliver with a rare, expertly selected tea. The outdoor terrace overlooks the hotel’s gardens and the surf rolling up to the Grande Plage.
A magical place, the terrace is an invitation to relax over a coffee, lunch or a cocktail at sunset. Also overlooking the Grande Plage is the poolside restaurant Le Sunset, open only in fine weather. Here, seafood plat-ters are served under parasols with a view of the ocean and outdoor pool. The Bar Napoléon III, with its décor of “royal blue” walls, bronzine-gilded mouldings and crystal chandelier, embodies the codes of the Second Empire, while its studded leather armchairs add a touch of modernity. The menu includes vintage champagnes, whiskies and artisanal Basque beverages. Spread over five floors and 3000 m2, the Spa Impérial is a haven of tranquillity. Its fresh-water pool with counter-current swimming is heated to 28°C and features swan’s neck water massage jets and a jacuzzi. There is also a steam room and sauna. The spa’s nine treatment rooms offer a complete range of face and body treatments in partnership with Guerlain, the hotel’s long-time partner, and the Leonor Greyl Institute for hair care. In summer, an open-air spa is set up every morning overlooking the ocean. The top floor is set up as a fitness centre equipped with the latest Technogym machines. The Californian swimming pool with seawater heated to 28°C overlooks the ocean. The colourful Cabañas, which have become emblematic of the Hôtel du Palais, can be rented by the season or by the day. These picturesque striped beach tents are available for sand aficionados on the Grande Plage, along with sun loungers and refreshments. From its majestic perch facing the vast ocean, the Hôtel du Palais is an institution that looks to the future while never forgetting its past – a regal villa whose history is that of Biarritz and France itself, yet whose fame knows no borders.
Mark Lindley
