Henri
Negresco was born in Bucarest, Roumania, in 1868. He helped in his father's
inn until the age of fifteen, when he decided to seek his fortune in Europe.
He worked his way through alI the European capitals, finally arriving in
Paris, where he won a reputation as the best "maître d'hôtel"
at the Helder. He was then offered the managership of the restaurant at
the Municipal Casino in Nice, which was to become the most popular and
distinguished restaurant on the Coast. Kings, princes and prominent American
personalities such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbildts and Singers, alI flocked
to his table. Henri Negresco's dream was to build a Palace on the Promenade
des Anglais that would be fit for his royal guests. A wealthy industrialist
by the name of Alexandre Darracq became interested in Negresco's plans,
and together they visited the most prestigious European and American hotels
to see for themselves just what was expected in the way of comfort and
luxury by a rich and demanding clientele. One of the most famous architects
of the "Belle époque", Edouard Niermans, born in Holland, had been
choosen to build the palace. The inauguration of the Negresco Hotel in
1913 was attended by a host of internatIonal celebrities and hailed as
a major triumph. But with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914,
the hotel was turned into a hospital. By 1918, the vast majority of the
Riviera's wealthy clientele had completely disappeared and Henri Negresco
realised that he was ruined. He died in Paris in 1920, at the age of 52.
From 1920 to 1957, the Hotel Negresco was owned by a Belgian company. Many visitors returned to the Côte d'Azur after the war in 1945, but consisted of short-stay touriste and businessmen, as opposed to the pre-war long-term tycoons. Gradually the hotel declined.
In 1957 the hotel became a family concern managed by Mr. and Mrs. Augier
.
The hotel's ever increasing renown has become a legend in the history
of the Côte d'Azur, and in October1974 it was proclaimed a National
Historic Monument.
Renowned throughout the entire world, the Negresco bas played an illustrious
part in the star-splangled history of the Cote d'Azur .
The
tradional rendez-vous of politicians, artists, writers and members of high
society from all over the world the Negresco has Deen honoured to welcome
Queen Elizabeth of England, Hiro Ito Emperor of J apan, their Serene Highnesses
Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, the Aga Khan III and the Begum,
King Baudoin of Belgium, President Truman, Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson
Rockefeller, Jean Cocteau, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Picasso, Dali,
Mathew Lloyd Weber, Rostropovitch, Rubinstein, Montserrat Caballé,
Charles Aznavour, Louis Amstrong, the Beatles, Elton John, Gilbert Bécaud,
Maurice Chevalier, Yves Montand, Mireille Mathieu, Edith Piaf, Michael
Jackson, Franck Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Tony Curtis,
Charlie Chaplin, Catherine Deneuve, Alain Delon, Marlène Dietrich,
James Dean, Kirk Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Elisabeth Taylor, Richard Burton,
Orson Welles, MarIon Brando, David Niven, Charles Bronson, C~ Grant, Gary
Cooper, A va Gardner, Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Burt Lancaster,
Anthony Quinn, Alfred Hitchcock, Omar Sharlf, Rudolph Valentino, Walt Disney.
The Negresco is also a remarkable private museum, where authentic works
of art, both paintings and sculptures, can be admired in the lounges, restaurants,
bar and corridors. The rooms and suites are decorated in different historic
styles, inspired by various museums and "châteaux" throughout France.
Most are fumished with genuine antique furniture of considerable value.