Entering the Hôtel du Palais is accompanied by a timeless moment.
The gaze is caught by the plunging view towards the ocean, crossing the adjoining rooms to land on the crystalline bays of the La Rotonde restaurant.
A few seconds of weightlessness before discovering the sumptuous decor of the lobby, its walls now dressed in an elegant white paint, its marquetry, chandeliers and pillars in brown marble.
The gilded furniture of Count Orlov has found its place there, carefully restored in the palace workshops.
On the left, a new opening accentuates the symmetry of the room.
Built in 1903 on the ruins of the summer villa of Empress Eugenie, devastated by fire, the Hôtel du Palais became, during the 20th century, a holiday resort for great European aristocrats and then celebrities like Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway or Frank Sinatra.
It made Biarritz shine until 2018, when management was entrusted to Hyatt, which included it in its Unbound Collection, made up of exceptional establishments, and began three years of renovation.
The 86 rooms, 56 suites and apartments bear the Napoleon III stamp.
Unique furniture, rare paintings, and refined tapestries give this cachet that is both timeless and steeped in history.
maitephoto
Atelier COS, helped by heritage architect Isabelle Joly, refreshed the spaces without altering the place.
The 15,000 liters of paint restore its luster to the ocher facade and 70,000 slates are placed on the roof.
Inside, imperial bees still adorn the blue carpet of the grand staircase and hallways leading to the 86 rooms and 56 suites.
The tapestries, trompe-l'oeil, upholstery and period furniture have been restored by craftsmen using ancestral methods.
The palace is now emerging from its lethargy under the conditions imposed by the pandemic.
The gourmet menu has been designed to be served in your room, hot and on a table set like in a restaurant.
A challenge for the 29-year-old starred chef Aurélien Largeau, comes under Jean-Marie Gautier at the head of the establishment's three restaurants.
The Californian seawater swimming pool is accessible with a limited gauge, but you will have to wait for the green light from the authorities to take advantage of the 3,000 m² Imperial spa.
However, some of Guerlain's treatments will be relocated to spaces specially dedicated for the occasion.
Palace secrets
Created in 1854, the former imperial residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie opens its doors on March 26, 2021. maitephoto maitephoto
The number of guests for the reopening remains confidential: "
We are well positioned in terms of reservations
", assures the manager of the hotel Alessandro Cresta, impatient to receive customers again.
The Hôtel du Palais has not hosted any since the summer of 2019. Work had been interrupted to accommodate the G7.
No sooner had Donald Trump set foot in the hotel than Emmanuel Macron offered him an impromptu private lunch.
“We had to develop a menu, set up a table on the terrace and prepare the meal at the last minute,”
recalls the manager.
This is the heart of our business: adapting to the demands of each client. ”
This March 26, there will be unforeseen events.
"During an opening, it is inevitable."
But he is convinced, the teams will be ready to face it calmly.
Hôtel du Palais, 1 avenue de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz.
Tel .: 05 59 41 12 34. From € 340 per double room.
