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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Palace-Cyrnos Hotel originated in the project of Miss Elisé Campbell, a rich English woman associated with the British royal family. In the 1870s, after exploring the Mediterranean islands, she chose to settle in Ajaccio. In 1883, she acquired land by the sea to build a prestigious building, all of which was imported from England by sea. This choice reflects the growing attractiveness of Corsica as a winter destination for the European aristocracy.

Built in the last quarter of the 19th century, the building became around 1890 a palace hotel, symbol of luxury and exoticism for an easy clientele. Originally, it occupied a vast landscaped plot overlooking the Mediterranean, incorporating a garden and a main façade adorned with a central arched porch in the middle of the wall. Two forebody frames this porch, while a strong protruding cornice, supported by consoles, crowns it together. The facade on the garden is distinguished by superimposed galleries, worn by square pillars and balcony ironworks, decorated with palmette decorations.

The interior, largely modernized, lost most of its original decorations, with the notable exception of the ceiling painting of the stairwell. This building illustrates the private architecture of the late 19th century, marked by British influence and the development of seaside tourism in Corsica. It also bears witness to the passage of a wealthy English colony, which came to search the island for a mild climate during the winter.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1990 for its facades, roofs and stairwells, the Palace-Cyrnos Hotel maintains an approximate location at the 13 Cours Général Leclerc in Ajaccio. Its history reflects the cultural and architectural exchanges between Corsica and England in the Victorian era, as well as the evolution of tourist practices in the Mediterranean.

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