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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  4. Pyrénées-Atlantiques
  5. 64440 Eaux-Bonnes

  6. Hôtel des Princes in Eaux-Bonnes

 Hôtel des Princes in Eaux-Bonnes dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine urbain
Grand hôtel classé MH
Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Hôtel des Princes in Eaux-Bonnes

    Avenue Castellane
    64440 Eaux-Bonnes
Photo de Hôtel des Princes in Eaux-Bonnes
Crédit photo : Auteur inconnu - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
vers 1860
First enlargement
1854-1872
Initial construction
vers 1870
Second enlargement
1892
Technical modernization
1904
Change of ownership
1975
Final closure
2002
Heritage protection
2017
Rehabilitation project
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The entire hotel, as well as the facade on street of the houses Prat-Dumas, Paris and Cazaux which are attached to it (Box AN 171 to 173): inscription by order of 28 November 2002

Key figures

Jean Murret-Labarthe - Sponsor and original owner Initiator of construction in 1854.
Gustave Lévy - Departmental architect Initial designer of the hotel.
Lucien Cottet - Paloese architect Author of the enlargements in 1860 and 1870.
Impératrice Eugénie de Montijo - Guest illustrated around 1860 Stay during the thermal boom.
Ismaïl Pacha - Viceroy of Egypt Hosted in 1869.
Thành Thái - Emperor of Annam Stayed in 1897.
Alexis Knowles - English Owner Buyer in 1904.

Origin and history

The Hôtel des Princes, built between 1854 and 1872 at the initiative of Jean Murret-Labarthe, embodies the peak of thermalism in Eaux-Bonnes. Designed by the departmental architect Gustave Lévy, it was enlarged in 1860 and 1870 by Lucien Cottet, incorporating neighboring buildings and a tea hall. Its Second Empire style, luxurious living rooms and 150 rooms make it a popular place for the European aristocracy.

The establishment welcomed personalities such as Empress Eugénie around 1860, the viceroy of Egypt Ismail Pasha in 1869, or the emperor of Annam Thành Thái in 1897. With a Ledoux lift in 1892 and operated by the Bonnafon family, it offers high-end services: temporary casino, tennis court, gourmet restaurant and guided excursions. The opening dinner of the Buzy-Laruns railway line was held in 1883.

After its acquisition by the English Alexis Knowles in 1904, the hotel declined with thermalism. Closed in 1975, it is looted and abandoned despite its inscription in historical monuments in 2002. Acquired by the municipality in 1980, then sold at auction in 2016-17, a project to rehabilitate a prestigious hotel apartment was launched in 2017 to restore its original fascist.

During World War II, the hotel served as a transit place for deported Jews. Its architecture combines white stone in base and coating imitating the red brick on the floors. The interiors, richly decorated with ground plasters and marble fireplaces, reflect the luxury of the Second Empire, with a monumental staircase decorated with a bust of Empress Eugénie.

The suites, located on the Darralde garden side, had shooting balconies, while the 4th floor housed staff accommodation. The hotel symbolizes both the opulence of 19th century spas and the challenges of preserving abandoned heritage, between looting and renaissance projects.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum