Hôtel du Palais | 1 Avenue de L’Imperatrice, 64200 Biarritz, France
The Hôtel Du Palais is a grand, 1855 palace that was once the Imperial residence or summer palace of Napoleon III and the Spanish-born Empress Eugénie. It sits on the banks of Biarritz in the Basque Country, where the waters of France and Spain meet, on the of Bay of Biscay, at the foot of the Pyrénées.
Once called the Villa Eugénie, in 1880 the néo-Louis XIII style villa was sold and converted into a hotel casino. In 1903, the hotel was devastated by fire, and lavishly rebuilt and enlarged within the original walls. The hotel would later fall into disrepair and be closed for a period in the 1950’s following the second world war, but has since been refurbished. Today, it is a luxury 5-star hotel with a total of 132 rooms and 22 suites, two swimming pools, a Michelin starred restaurant, and beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biarritz’s Bay. Past guests include Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra and Coco Chanel. Click through for a glimpse . . .
