Palace Hotel

The Hôtel du Palais, in Biarritz

The Hôtel du Palais is an emblematic palace of Biarritz, former imperial residence of Napoleon III and the empress Eugénie, facing the Grande Plage. The Biarritz audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this sumptuous Villa Eugénie of one hundred and forty-seven rooms, built in 1854, that hosted the festivities of the European elite before becoming one of the greatest hotels of the Basque coast.

From the Villa Eugénie to the imperial palace

When Napoleon III understood that his wife Eugénie had set her heart on this little seaside town, he had to face the evidence: it would be necessary to improve their accommodation. You can well imagine that this modest fishing village did not have the necessary infrastructure to host the imperial couple. He thus had the Villa Eugénie built in 1854, a sumptuous residence of one hundred and forty-seven rooms, in a style inspired by Louis XIII, in red brick and stone, set facing the ocean. From 1856 to 1868, the palace hosted sumptuous festivities gathering all the European elite, that is to say all the royal and noble families of the continent, then listed in a famous directory. In summer, when all these princes were present, the imperial festivities were in full swing: excursions, fireworks, balls and dazzling receptions made Biarritz the meeting place of the aristocracy. In 1873, at the death of her husband, the empress inherited the building, that she resold in 1880. The villa then became a great luxury hotel, was partly ravaged by a fire in 1903, then rebuilt to give birth to the current Hôtel du Palais, one of the most prestigious of the Basque coast. Even today, its majestic silhouette in red brick dominates the Grande Plage and testifies to the imperial golden age of the city. An imperial palace and a residence of Eugénie, the Hôtel du Palais is a fine stop of the discovery of Biarritz.

What to see

Here you admire an emblematic palace of Biarritz, former Villa Eugénie of one hundred and forty-seven rooms built in 1854 for Napoleon III and the empress Eugénie, in red brick facing the Grande Plage; scene of the festivities of the European elite, become a great hotel then rebuilt after the fire of 1903, it is today one of the most prestigious palaces of the Basque coast. The Hôtel du Palais is an imperial symbol of Biarritz. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Hôtel du Palais stands facing the Grande Plage, in the heart of Biarritz, reachable on foot. It is a palace in activity whose façade and gardens you admire from the outside; the interior access is reserved for the clientele or follows the conditions of the establishment, which vary. You discover it during a walk by the sea.

What is the origin of the Hôtel du Palais of Biarritz?

It was originally the Villa Eugénie, a sumptuous residence of one hundred and forty-seven rooms built in 1854 by Napoleon III for the empress Eugénie, charmed by Biarritz; scene of the festivities of the European elite from 1856 to 1868, it was resold in 1880, became a great hotel, was ravaged by a fire in 1903 then rebuilt into the current Hôtel du Palais, one of the most prestigious of the Basque coast.

Where is the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz?

Facing the Grande Plage, in the heart of Biarritz, in France.