Nearly 150 years of history
Since 1871, the Hotel Splendid has been one of the emblems of the architectural decor of Cannes and La Croisette.
Enjoy the story of this elegant and bewitching residence that will soon celebrate its 150th anniversary...
Let's go back two hundred years...
On the night of March 1 to 2, 1815, a small troop led by Emperor Napoleon I, in exile on the island of Elba, landed on French soil in the nearby town of Golfe Juan.
The stories tell that the emperor stayed in the current rue Bivouac Napoleon and that Pauline Bonaparte, his sister, spent the night in the small Gazielle inn, the ancestor of our hotel.
In December 1834, Lord Brougham discovered Cannes. Fascinated by the charm of this French Riviera town, he decided to stay there in the company of his friends from the English gentry.
Cannes then became a very popular destination for the European aristocracy during the winter period.
Four years later, in 1838, the Port of Cannes was created. In 1871, the Promenade de la Croisette was built. The small Gazielle inn grew to become a prestigious hotel, rising to three floors.
The Hotel Splendid stands along the Allées de la Liberté,
alone facing the port and the sea.
It is the beginning of a new era of prosperity in Cannes: that of the "Belle Époque".
During the winter of 1874, Jacques Offenbach, the famous operetta composer, was on holiday in Cannes.
He stayed at the Hotel Splendid all winter long.
The year 1905 marked a real turning point in the history of the hotel. Two floors were added, giving a majestic air of grandeur to this noble building overlooking the Old Port of Cannes. The "Splendid Hotel" was born.
At that time, it was a seasonal hotel opening only in the winter, like all the establishments in Cannes that remained closed in the summer due to the heat.
Cannes then continued its development and established itself, over time, on the international scene as a major tourist and cultural destination with the creation in 1946 of the International Film Festival.
The Hotel Splendid, imbued with beauty and history, continues its rise and remains an emblematic hotel of Cannes and its Croisette, facing the Old Yacht Harbour, 50 meters from the Palais des Festivals and Congresses and the Casino.