5 hotels you must visit once in your life

They open onto squares considered some of the most beautiful in the world, overlook the azure sea or house an extraordinary collection of contemporary art. Today, as in the past, these hotels reveal the magic that made them legendary. Discover these exceptional places, to be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime...

Le Royal Évian

Inaugurated in 1909 and long considered " the most beautiful hotel in Europe ", the Royal Évian is housed in a magnificent art deco building with painted ceilings, immense suites and precious wood furnishings. The palace was home to kings and queens from all over Europe, Hollywood stars (led by Greta Garbo) and legendary writers such as Marcel Proust. Artfully restored by François Champsaur, the place has lost none of its charm, retaining its Belle Époque treasures mixed with the best of the new century - an exceptional collection of contemporary art scattered throughout the suites and lounges, a 1200 m² Evian spaa prestigious table designed by chef Patrice Vander... But today, as in the past, people come to the Royal Évian above all for the breathtakingly beautiful view of Lake Geneva and its crystal-clear waters, surrounded by a miraculously preserved natural environment. A priceless privilege.

• Double room from 375 euros
• 13 avenue des Mateirons 74500 Évian-les-Bains
• Further information on the Royal Evian

©И NICOLAS

L'Eden Roc in Antibes

Set like a vertigo above the azure sea, this palace built in the 1870s in the purest Napoleon III style is famous for its heated seawater pool dug into the rock (one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean) and its exceptional 9-hour park with, in the middle, a majestic alley shaded by umbrella pines that runs straight down to the sea. An unmissable meeting place for the stars during the Cannes Film Festival, the resort reveals all its magic out of season, with rooms and villas featuring floral drapes, crystal chandeliers and precious Louis XVI furniture. Led by chef Sébastien Broda, the cuisine is an absolute delight, as are the spa treatments by Dior.

• Double room from 1500 euros. 167-165 boulevard JF Kennedy 06160 Antibes
• Tel: 04 93 61 39 01
• Further information on Eden Roc

The Ritz in Paris

In the heart of Place Vendôme (the most beautiful square in the world for many), the Ritz is unquestionably THE capital's palace. Inaugurated in 1898, it captivated the world for its refinement (architect Charles Mewès drew inspiration from Versailles and Fontainebleau) and modernity. The hotel's owner, César Ritz, was the first to imagine a palace " like a family home ", where guests could spend the day as well as the night. To this end, he furnished his rooms with pastel drapes, fine woodwork and Italian marble, and invited celebrity chef Auguste Escoffier to join his kitchens, sending epicureans into a frenzy. Gabrielle Chanel, Scott Fitzgerald and the Windsors all made it their HQ, meeting in the gallery for tea or at the Bar Hemingway for a first drink. This is undoubtedly where the magic of the Ritz lies... Today, as in the past, artists, writers and designers come together with the same pleasure to immerse themselves in its sublime surroundings.pleasure to dive into its sublime swimming pool, sip a Negroni or dine with friends at the Swordfish table, and once again celebrate this vibrant, energetic Paris of modernity.

• Double room from 2020 euros
• 15 Place Vendôme 75001 Paris. Tel: 01 43 16 30 30
• Further information on Le Ritz

Vincent Leroux

Hotel du Palais in Biarritz

Inaugurated in 1854, the Hôtel du Palais is still the only luxury hotel on the Atlantic coast, and one of the most sumptuous in Europe. Refurbished in 2021, it has been restored to its former glory, thanks to the talent of a team of craftsmen who have brought back to life painted columns, trompe-l'œil doors and the extraordinary chandelier in the Bar Napoléon, which took over 200 hours to restore. The result is masterly, turning the place into a fantastic time machine with a refinement that is in no way intimidating, so intimate and warm is the hotel thanks to the quality of service and the many pleasures offered to guests. Rooms of exquisite taste, a 3,000 m² Guerlain spa, a restaurant run by Christophe Scheller, and the best is yet to come with this mythical Californian pool with heated seawater overlooking the ocean and the great Biarritz beach.

• Double room from 409 euros
• 1 Avenue de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz. Tel: 05 59 41 12 34
• Further information on Hôtel du Palais

©hoteldupalaisbiarritz, ©maitephotos

The Barrière Normandy in Deauville

Forever famous for the legendary film "Un homme et une femme", shot within its walls, this palace is undoubtedly the finest jewel on the Normandy coast. Built in 1912, it retains its Anglo-Norman cottage feel, with its half-timbered facade and all its splendor - crystal chandeliers, period stained-glass windows and Jouy paintings in the immense rooms and suites. We come here to drink a cocktail at the bar where Jack Nicholson used to have his habit, have lunch at Gainsbourg's favorite table before discovering the sumptuous Diane Bar spa.cover the sumptuous Diane Barrière spa, all within a stone's throw of Deauville's mythical boardwalk and its immense sandy beach facing the ocean.

• Double room from 370 euros
• 38 rue Jean Mermoz 14800 Deauville, Tel: 02 31 98 66 22
• Further information on Le Barrière Normandy

©fabrice rambert

A further escape...

Villa La Coste

A totally unique retreat that combines all the superlatives. Designed by star architect Tadao Ando, with interior decor by Hong Kong designer André Fu, the hotel houses some thirty immaculately white villa-suites.The immaculate white of these villas underscores the nobility of the materials used, particularly in the bathrooms, with their bathtubs carved from blocks of marble. A perfect introduction to the area, which combines hospitality, vineyards, gastronomy and contemporary art. The park, which faces the estate's 200 hectares of vineyards, is home to an exceptional collection of artworks that you'll discover along the way. A giant spider by Louise Bourgeois stands alongside works by Calder, Richard Serra and Jean-Michel Othoniel. The Jean Nouvel-designed winery is just a stone's throw from the restaurants led by Hélène Darroze and Francis Mallmann, not to mention the café-restaurant, nestled in a space also designed by Tadao Ando.

One last thing to convince you to run to Villa Lacoste? Since March 2, 2024, the venue has given carte blanche to British artist Damien Hirst, whose works are scattered throughout the vineyards and pavilions, designed by the greatest architects of the XXᵉ and XXIᵉ centuries.

• Rooms from 900 euros
• 2750 route de la Cride, 13610 Le Puy Sainte-Réparade.tel: 04 42 61 89 98
• Further information on La Villa La Coste

©Richard