Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice

The Palais de la Méditerranée is located at 13-15 Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Its history is long and tumultuous. From its name Palais de la Méditerranée, it became the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. Today, it boasts 187 rooms, including nine suites, and was awarded 5 stars on September 30, 2009.

Construction of the Palais de la Méditerranée

After the First World War, two major leisure establishments, the Jetée-Promenade and the municipal casino, were the talk of Nice. Given the vogue for sea bathing and gambling, in 1920, three economic players planned to build a third establishment.

The trio consisted of financier Frank Jay Gould, hotelier Joseph Aletti and casino owner Edouard Baudoin. A competition was organized and won by the Dalmas Père et Fils architectural firm. From 1927 to 1928, the project employed 350 workers and cost thirty million francs.
When it opened in 1929, it included a casino, bars, restaurants, a dance hall, exhibition rooms and an 800-seat theater.

Dalmas Père et fils

Charles Dalmas was born in Nice on March 11, 1863 and died in Nice on October 18, 1938. He was a French architect who worked extensively in Nice, and his son worked with him.
Marcel Dalmas was born in Paris on May 25, 1892 and died in Nice on July 16, 1950. He was the son of architect Charles Dalmas and Hélène Marie Willemse.
His buildings in Nice include the Immeuble Nahapiet, Hôtel Royal and Hôtel Ruhl, all three on the Promenade des Anglais. But also the École des Arts Décoratifs, in which both father and son taught, the Immeuble de la Tour, the Villa de la Société du littoral and many others.

Façades of the Palais de la Méditerranée

Reinforced concrete was used, and the facades were Art-Deco in style.
In 1927-1928, under the responsibility of architects Charles and Marcel Dalmas, Antoine Sartorio created the facade’s decorations of horses and female figures.
Antoine Sartorio’s work is of particular interest in the interwar period. He perfectly embodies those artists of the thirties who were enamored of monumental art and worked in close collaboration with architects. His research always focused on architecture and symbolism. His Art Deco style combines pure lines and volumes that evolve towards geometrisation. Based on Antoine Sartorio, sculpteur des corps et des âmes, Violaine Menard-Kiener, Le Tholonet, 1996. This is Antoine Sartorio’s granddaughter.

The decline of the Palais de la Méditerranée

World War II and the casino war halt the palace’s rise. A long period of deterioration followed, followed by receivership in 1978. See the disappearance and murder of Agnès Le Roux by her ex-lover, Jean-Maurice Agnelet. In 1981, the Palace’s stained glass windows were auctioned off, along with the furniture and décor.

Thanks to writers Michel Butor, Max Gallo and several associations, the palace was saved. Their actions led to the classification of the facades as historic monuments by decree on August 18, 1989. They were also awarded the “Patrimoine du XXe siècle” label. Unfortunately, in 1990, all but two of the palace’s facades were demolished. Classified as such, they were propped up at the rear, and were to remain in this state alone for 10 years.

New Palais de la Méditerranée

In 1996, SCI France Congrès submitted its first building permit, which was granted. It was then annulled by the Administrative Court. In 1999, it was finally validated by the Court of Appeal the following year. By the end of 2000, however, only the underground parking lot was in operation.
Then, in 2001, the Société Hôtelière du Palais de la Méditerranée and the Société du Louvre invested 120 million euros in the reconstruction. The Palais de la Méditerranée finally reopened in 2004.
Constellation Hotels Holding, a Luxembourg-based company controlled by Qatari capital, owns the hotel. Operations are entrusted to the American hotel chain Hyatt.
This hotel became the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. The 5-star hotel features 187 rooms (including 9 suites), a restaurant, a bar, a heated indoor-outdoor swimming pool and 1,700 m² of reception space. The Palais de la Méditerranée casino, meanwhile, is managed by the Partouche group, and includes two restaurants, reception areas, and an auditorium seating over 1,000.

Information

Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
13 prom Anglais,
06000 Nice

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