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Its imposing stature, visible atop the hill and its marked neoclassical style immediately evoke a prestigious past. This is certainly the case. Queen Victoria stayed here, who came to visit her friend Alice de Rothschild in 1891. At the time, the Grand Hôtel de Grasse welcomed high society, particularly the British who came to enjoy the mild climate and the calm of the town of a thousand perfumes. The years have passed, habits have changed and the Grand Hotel has been transformed. However, in the flat on offer here, something remains of those days of high living: elegant comfort, large , bright spaces and, of course, a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean. In the shade of the palm trees in the garden visitors will be won over by the gentle way of life that Queen Victoria so appreciated.
We were attracted to this region because of its climate and to Grasse because of its location between the sea and the mountains. It was fate that led us to buy this flat which is located in the former orangery of the Grand Hotel of Grasse. When we learned that Queen Victoria had stayed here, we wanted to find out more. We discovered photos from the time, the crossing made by the royal yacht, her train journey, her welcome, stay, joys and misfortunes, all of which captivated us.
The building is constructed in a neoclassical style like many of the grand hotels on the Côte d'Azur. It was built thanks to an initiative inspired by the coastal towns. The Grand Hotel was built by the Société des Terrains du Littoral and the Cannes architects Charles Baron and Laurent Vianney to attract a wealthy clientele to winter in Grasse. In 1897, the hotel only consisted of the current left-hand part made up of a central forebuilding and two wings of three bays on either side. In 1904, three three-storey bays were added to the eastern part and a one-storey extension was added to the wing which they are connected to. Further construction followed in 1910 with sheds, stables, haylofts, a further extension to the building to the east and a second pedimented forebuilding extended by three further bays, giving the hotel its present appearance.
The Grand Hotel was inaugurated at the end of October 1882. It marked the beginning of a period of tourism comparable to that of the seaside resorts but with the many advantages of a medium-altitude town. In 1895, it was leased to Henri Saudan, a young 24-year old Swiss hotelier who already ran a hotel in Zermatt, and who went on to become the owner in 1897. A polyglot, he attracted an Anglo-Saxon clientele and decided to open the hotel in the summer as well. It is the only hotel mentioned in the 1913 Michelin guide. In the last war, the hotel was occupied in succession by Italian, German and Franco-American troops. Henri Saudan died in 1945. The hotel was transformed into an apartment building and completed in 1948. The hotel was restored and refurbished in 1990. It is now a condominium of about ten flats named the "Domaine du Grand Hôtel".
The panoramic view of the coastline and the sea gives Grasse the well-deserved title of the "Balcony of the Mediterranean". The town has a privileged position, situated 15 kilometres from the sea and at an altitude of 340 metres. Unesco has included the city's "perfume skills" in its intangible heritage. Our flat offers modern comfort, a breathtaking view of the old town and an ideal location for walks to the Jardins de la Princesse Pauline, the International Perfume Museum or the Villa Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Its easy access also makes it possible to discover the medieval world of Grasse, through its porches, squares and chapels with their Romanesque and Lombard influences. The ochre tones of the houses soothe and give it a southern character.
Labelled a “Town of Art and History” and the international perfume capital, Grasse receives visits from 10% of the tourists to the Côte d'Azur. But this doesn’t affect local life and in the evening it becomes a quiet country town again. The Weil patisserie, a favourite for food lovers, sells crusty baguettes, pastries and delicious breads. The Jardin de la Princesse Pauline, an empire garden named after Pauline Borghese, Napoleon I's younger sister, provides a panoramic view of Grasse and the bay of Cannes. Every year since 1946, Grasse has held a jasmine festival on the first weekend of August. At the "Caffé César", in the heart of the village of Opio, two chefs, Thierry Molinengo and Fréderic Bogé, combine their culinary talents. The "Auberge du Vieux Château" in Cabris has just been awarded a Gault & Millau toque.
1500 € - 1900 € per week
With a 122 m2 surface area, the flat is set at the level of the raised garden level. It has a large living room, a kitchen, a suite with a dressing room and bathroom. A large corridor leads to a second bedroom with shower room and a laundry room equipped with numerous cupboards and storage space.
ref 484234
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