Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Excelsior Hotel in Aix-les-Bains, built at the beginning of the 20th century, was designed as an annex to the Hotel Splendid by the Geneva architect Alfred Olivet for hotelier Antoine Rossignoli. The work, led by the Aixese entrepreneur Paul Bonna from 1906, gave rise to a luxury establishment reflecting the Art Nouveau style, with preserved decorations such as the hall, ironworks and stained glass windows. This project was part of a tourist and thermal dynamic that flourished in the city.

In 1957, the hotel was sold and transformed into a residence named Beauregard, marking the end of its hotel use. Despite this reconversion, some original elements remain, bearing witness to its prestigious past. The building received double protection in 1987: partial classification for its stairwells and iron elevators, and inscription for its facades and roofs. It was also labeled Heritage of the 20th century in 2003.

The Excelsior Hotel illustrates the golden age of Savoyard thermal resorts, where Aix-les-Bains attracted an easy clientele who came to enjoy the cure and leisure. Its architecture, combining elegance and modernity for the time, reflected the ambitions of a city with a boom in tourism. Today, it remains a symbol of the seaside and architectural heritage of Savoy, between historical memory and contemporary adaptation.

External links