You’re standing in front of one of Le Touquet’s most iconic landmarks from its golden age: the Hermitage Hotel, built in 1904 on the square that still bears its name. Back then, the resort was booming, and this prestigious hotel welcomed wealthy guests eager to enjoy the sea air, the casino, and all the pleasures of the coast. Designed by architect Henry Martinet, the building blends charm and elegance with its irregular shapes, varied rooflines, and contrasting materials. Take a look at the façade: a grand ground floor, an upper level marked by a central pavilion crowned with a pediment… every detail evokes the refinement of early 20th-century seaside resorts. The hotel once formed part of a prestigious ensemble alongside the Château Daloz and the Casino de la Forêt. In 1914, it was extended, with one wing facing the sea and another facing the tennis courts, to accommodate the ever-growing influx of visitors. But war soon disrupted this carefree glamour. In 1914, the hotel was requisitioned as a military hospital. During World War II, it was partially destroyed and later left abandoned. It wasn’t until 1968 that it found a new life, converted into private apartments while retaining its original charm. Today, although it no longer hosts travellers, the Hermitage Hotel remains a major architectural landmark in Le Touquet, a building steeped in history that still whispers the story of the town’s refined seaside heritage.