Hotel Negresco: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Hôtel 5 étoiles Le Negresco.jpg|thumb|right|The hotel as seen from the ''[[Promenade des Anglais]]'']] |
[[File:Hôtel 5 étoiles Le Negresco.jpg|thumb|right|The hotel as seen from the ''[[Promenade des Anglais]]'']] |
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The '''Hotel Negresco''' is a |
The '''Hotel Negresco''' is a hotel and site of the restaurant ''Le Chantecler'', located on the [[Promenade des Anglais]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=qHwNQOTfC54C&pg=PA733 Rick Steves' France 2011 - Rick Steves, Steve Smith<!-- Bot generated title -->]. p. 733.</ref> on the Baie des Anges in [[Nice]], [[France]]. It was named after [[Henri Negresco]] (1868–1920), who had the palatial [[hotel]] constructed in 1912.<ref name=Frommers>[http://books.google.com/books?id=6cDMKuIT460C&pg=PA602 Frommer's France - Jane Anson, Mary Anne Evans, Lily Heise, Tristan Rutherford, Caroline Sieg, Louise Simpson, Amelia Smith<!-- Bot generated title -->]. p. 602.</ref> In keeping with the conventions of the times, when the Negresco opened in 1913<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=_8z9H6wYIHgC&pg=PA593 France - Roger Williams, Robin Gauldie<!-- Bot generated title -->]. p. 593.</ref> its front opened on the side opposite the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] sea. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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Henri Negresco, born [http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/laurentiu-mitrache/articol/hotelul-negresco-nisa |
Henri Negresco, born Alexandru Negrescu<ref>[http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/laurentiu-mitrache/articol/hotelul-negresco-nisa Hotelul Negresco de la Nisa]</ref> was the son of an innkeeper. He was educated and worked as a confectioner at the luxurious [[Casa Capșa]] in [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]], left home at the age of 25 (earlier sources mentioned 15, but it is not really possible, he finished the military service in Romania and there is at least one photo with him in Bucharest at older age) going first to [[Paris]] then to the [[French Riviera]] where he became very successful. As director of the Municipal Casino in Nice, he had the idea to build a sumptuous hotel of quality that would attract the wealthiest of clients. After arranging the financing, he hired the great architect of the "café society" [[Édouard-Jean Niermans]] to design the hotel and its now famous pink dome. [[File:Hôtel Negresco in Nice.jpg|thumb|left|The Royal Lounge with its chandelier and stained glass window]] The spectacular [[Baccarat (company)|Baccarat]] 16,309-crystal chandelier in the Negresco's Royal Lounge was commissioned by [[Nicholas II of Russia|Czar Nicholas II]], who due to the October revolution was unable to take delivery. |
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Contrary to popular belief, the large window of the Royal Lounge – listed as an Historical Monument – is not the work of [[Gustave Eiffel]]. Eiffel never worked at the Negresco; instead it is entirely the work of Edouard-Jean Niermans. |
Contrary to popular belief, the large window of the Royal Lounge – listed as an Historical Monument – is not the work of [[Gustave Eiffel]]. Eiffel never worked at the Negresco; instead it is entirely the work of Edouard-Jean Niermans. |
Revision as of 20:22, 26 July 2016
The Hotel Negresco is a hotel and site of the restaurant Le Chantecler, located on the Promenade des Anglais[1] on the Baie des Anges in Nice, France. It was named after Henri Negresco (1868–1920), who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912.[2] In keeping with the conventions of the times, when the Negresco opened in 1913[3] its front opened on the side opposite the Mediterranean sea.
History
Henri Negresco, born Alexandru Negrescu[4] was the son of an innkeeper. He was educated and worked as a confectioner at the luxurious Casa Capșa in Bucharest, Romania, left home at the age of 25 (earlier sources mentioned 15, but it is not really possible, he finished the military service in Romania and there is at least one photo with him in Bucharest at older age) going first to Paris then to the French Riviera where he became very successful. As director of the Municipal Casino in Nice, he had the idea to build a sumptuous hotel of quality that would attract the wealthiest of clients. After arranging the financing, he hired the great architect of the "café society" Édouard-Jean Niermans to design the hotel and its now famous pink dome.
The spectacular Baccarat 16,309-crystal chandelier in the Negresco's Royal Lounge was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II, who due to the October revolution was unable to take delivery.
Contrary to popular belief, the large window of the Royal Lounge – listed as an Historical Monument – is not the work of Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel never worked at the Negresco; instead it is entirely the work of Edouard-Jean Niermans.
Henri Negresco faced a downturn in his affairs when World War I broke out two years after he opened for business. His hotel was converted to a hospital. By the end of the war, the number of wealthy visitors to the Riviera had dropped off to the point that the hotel was in severe financial difficulty. Seized by creditors, the Negresco was sold to a Belgian company. Henri Negresco died a few years later in Paris at the age of 52.
Over the years, the hotel had its ups and downs, and in 1957, it was sold to the Augier family. Madame Jeanne Augier reinvigorated the hotel with luxurious decorations and furnishings, including an outstanding art collection and rooms with mink bedspreads. Noted for its doormen dressed in the manner of the staff in 18th-century elite bourgeois households, complete with red-plumed postilion hats, the hotel also offers renowned gourmet dining at the Regency-style Le Chantecler restaurant.
Le Chantecler has two stars in the Guide Michelin and 15/20 in Gault Millau. It has previously been under the leadership of famous chefs such as Bruno Turbot and Alain Llorca, who left to take over the equally fabled Moulin de Mougins. The restaurant features a fabulous interior with gobelins and roccoco furniture in untraditional colourings of pink, lime, lemon, cerulean etc.
In 2003, the Hotel Negresco was listed by the government of France as a National Historic Building[5] and is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The Negresco has a total of 119 guest rooms plus 22 suites.
In contemporary times
The fifth floor of the hotel is for "VVIP" guests.[2] The acronym stands for "very, very important persons".[2] The staff wears costumes based upon the 18th century.[2] The hotel has a private beach, which is located across the street from the facility.[5] It is also where the gym is located.
In the wake of the 2016 Nice attack, the hotel's main hall was used to triage wounded civilians.
References
- ^ Rick Steves' France 2011 - Rick Steves, Steve Smith. p. 733.
- ^ a b c d Frommer's France - Jane Anson, Mary Anne Evans, Lily Heise, Tristan Rutherford, Caroline Sieg, Louise Simpson, Amelia Smith. p. 602.
- ^ France - Roger Williams, Robin Gauldie. p. 593.
- ^ Hotelul Negresco de la Nisa
- ^ a b The French Riviera Adventure Guide - Ferne Arfin. p. 85.
External links
- Hotel Negresco, real official website
- Hotel Negresco official video, one video per room category
- Gigapixel of the hotel, by Guillaume Roumestan