History

Constructed in 1904, the Royal-Riviera was at first known as the Bedford, most probably in homage to the very first British visitors. The hotel found itself immediately at the centre of the most sophisticated worldwide circles.

At the beginning of the Century, it became the place to stay, to spend a winter season in the suburbs of Saint-Jean and Beaulieu, for Leopold II, William II, the Princesse Galitzine and the Prince of Wales. It became the place where the international Gotha would mix with the cultural upper classes of French society, who would build, in honour of a long career or an exceptional life, the most refined villas possible and also, sometimes, the most extravagant.

Gustave Eiffel would build his own villa in 1903, complete with - since an engineer can never forget his trade? - a meteorological station, designed to demonstrate the excellence of the Mediterranean winter climate. The Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild would build, in 1905, a "folie", inspired by the Tuscan villas of the Renaissance, and surrounded by seven gardens, where the excellence of the arts of the 18th Century are still admired today.

The archaeologist Théodore Reinach, fascinated by ancient Greece, oversaw the construction in 1908, on the 'Baie des Fourmis', of a work of art unique throughout the whole world, the Villa Kérylos, a modernised recreation of a noble residence on the island of Délos, dating to the 2nd Century B.C. He would live there with his wife, regularly holding parties and going so far as to ask his guests, in the interests of historical re-enactment, to dress in the same gowns originally worn by the Hellènes!

From the opposite side of the cove, the Royal-Riviera overlooks this exotic edifice, perched upon a bed of rocks, and surrounded by cyprus and olive trees. After enduring the most distressing offence which a grand hotel can possibly suffer - that of being transformed into private apartments - the Royal-Riviera was finally reborn in 1999. The instigators of this rebirth were wise enough to pay respect to the style which characterises this corner of the Côte d'Azur. A style which symbolises the balance between the sea, gardens, and the talent that mankind has of creating exceptional and unique places. A century on from its construction, the Royal-Riviera still illuminates.

The spirit of the Royal-Riviera

Sun-filled terraces, sandy beach, brimming swimming pool, like gifts from the moment of early dawn until the final hours of the night, to the guests of the Royal-Riviera.

A cocktail of Art Deco and Neo-Hellenic influences from the immense lounge, which overlooks the Mediterranean garden redesigned by Jean Mus and the immense blue of the Mediterranean Sea.

A harmony of the colours of the South of France, morning sunlight, balcony overlooking the sea and attention to detail; everything has been thought of in order to make each and every stay a wonderful memory, leaving you with a burning desire to return.

With the omnipresence of the southern gardens and views of the sea, reading a book, drinking tea in the heart of the magnificent garden, everything becomes different, more calm, more beautiful than anywhere else.

The hotel boasts a total of 94 rooms and suites, 78 of which are in the main building. Designed to reflect the landscape of the south of France, the majority of the rooms overlook the sea and gardens. The private villa l'Orangerie features 16 additionnal rooms and Suites decorated in the purest Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat style.

Each room, each window, each balcony offers a real enchantment of nature: each room is an invitation to pleasure.