Hôtel du Palais Biarritz - 5 stars An exceptional imperial palace facing the Atlantic

Traveller Reviews Google Hôtel du Palais Biarritz

4.6 sur 5 1890 reviews

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  5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Jean-François Roux on 14/03/2026

  The Hôtel du Palais is a luxury hotel located in the town of Biarritz, in the Basque Country, in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Since 2011, it has held a 5-star rating and the "Palace" designation, the only hotel on the Atlantic coast of mainland France to hold this distinction. Originally, the building, known as Villa Eugénie, was an imperial residence of Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo, built in 1854-1855 in the Louis XIII style using brick and stone. In 1881, the deposed Empress sold this seaside palace, which was transformed into a hotel-casino under the name Palais Biarritz. It was acquired in 1893 and then renamed the Hôtel du Palais. Burned down in February 1903, it was rebuilt and enlarged on the walls of the former villa by Édouard-Jean Niermans, who transformed it into a luxury hotel. The façades and roofs were listed as historical monuments by decree of December 24, 1993. History: In July 1854, the Emperor decided to build a summer residence in Biarritz to satisfy the Empress, who wished to be closer to her native Spain. He appointed Hippolyte Durand, architect for the Basses-Pyrénées department, to construct the building. He drew up the plans, and the residence was built between the end of 1854 and the summer of 1855. Louis-Auguste Couvrechef, the Crown and Imperial Estate architect in charge of the Château de Pau, who had been appointed assistant works inspector to the architect at the start of construction, ultimately replaced Hippolyte Durand in his position in June 1855. This replacement was due to Durand's incompetence; he struggled to keep up with the project. The architect Henri-Paul Nénot described the building as "a construction devoid of any artistic merit." From 1856 to 1868, the date of the imperial couple's last stay, it hosted lavish parties that brought together European royalty. In 1859, Gabriel-Auguste Ancelet was appointed architect of the residences in Pau and Biarritz. He had a new wing built. Ancelet was appointed architect of the Palace of Compiègne in 1864, but he was replaced by Auguste Lafollye, who built a cowshed and a sheepfold and added a story to the building in 1867. The villa became the property of the Empress upon the death of Napoleon III in 1873. Eugénie sold it to the Banque de l'Union Parisienne in 1881. It was first transformed into a hotel-casino, the "Palais Biarritz," then into a hotel in 1893-1894 by the Parisian architect and owner of the property, Octave Raquin (1837-1897), who was also responsible for the large, chamfered wing that later became the imperial villa. It remained a prestigious meeting place, hosting crowned heads such as Queen Victoria and Empress Elisabeth of Austria (the latter using a pseudonym).

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  5 sur 5 Reviews posted by rodrigues david on 11/03/2026

  Everything was perfect. Magnificent room, spa, and the very cozy Bar Napoléon. A professional and friendly bartender welcomed us.

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  5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Faure Patrice on 05/03/2026