Construction of hotel 1901 (≈ 1901)
220 rooms, by Albert Tournaire.
1958
Conversion into apartments
Conversion into apartments 1958 (≈ 1958)
By architect Pierre Tobolka.
29 octobre 1975
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 29 octobre 1975 (≈ 1975)
Protected facades and roofs.
1er mars 2001
20th Century Heritage Label
20th Century Heritage Label 1er mars 2001 (≈ 2001)
Official recognition.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs (Case C 354): inscription by order of 29 October 1975
Key figures
Albert Tournaire - Architect
Designer of the hotel in 1901.
Pierre Tobolka - Architect
Transformation in 1958.
Origin and history
The Winter-Palace Hotel was built in 1901 by architect Albert Tournaire on the grounds of the former Riviera-Palace Hotel in Menton. With its 220 rooms, it embodied the luxury of the palaces of the Belle Époque, attracting an international aristocratic clientele. Its imposing L-shaped architecture blended concrete roof terraces and arrows in varnished tiles, typical of the eclectic style of the time.
After World War II, the hotel experienced a gradual decline, reflecting the evolution of tourist modes. In 1958, he was transformed into apartments by architect Pierre Tobolka, losing much of his original interior decor. Only the hall today preserves decorative elements from the early twentieth century, such as its false cradle vault and marble staircase.
Partially listed as historical monuments in 1975 for its facades and roofs, the former palace also received the 20th century Heritage label in 2001. The two yellow tile bell towers, visible above the terraces, remain one of the few external testimonies of its past fascist. Its history illustrates the fate of the great hotels of the Riviera, from the fascists of the European aristocracy to a residential conversion.
Historical sources, such as the works of Jean-Claude Volpi or the Menton Guide, a city of art and history, underline his role in the golden age of tourism in Menton (1860-1914). The hotel is part of a wider architectural heritage, including other palaces in the area, now partially protected or disappeared.
