Cannes is a city located on the French Riviera, in the south-east of France. It is known worldwide for its international film festival, which brings together the biggest stars of cinema every year in May on the Croisette on the avenue lined with palm trees andStar hotels erected along the bay of Cannes.
Among these hotels, one stands out for its history, architecture and glamour: the hotel Carlton, which dominates the Croisette with its white facade decorated with domes.
The Carlton Hotel was built between 1909 and 1913, on the initiative of the Swiss businessman Henri Ruhl, who wanted to create the most beautiful hotel on the Côte d'Azur. He entrusted the project to the architect Charles Dalmas, which was inspired by the Belle Époque style and the palace of Emir Abd el Kader, which he had visited in Algeria. He designed a seven-story building, with a symmetrical facade, pierced by numerous windows and balconies, and topped with two domes, which evoke the breasts of the Belle Otero, a famous courtesan who frequented the hotel. The Carlton Hotel was inaugurated on February 5, 1913, in the presence of personalities such as the king Alfonso XIII of Spain, Grand Duke Michael of Russia or the Prince of Wales, future king Edward VIII.
The Carlton Hotel quickly became a meeting place for European elites, who came to enjoy the climate, gastronomy, and leisure activities of the Côte d'Azur. It also hosted political events, such as the League of Nations conference in 1922, or the signing of the Franco-Italian treaty in 1947. But it was above all cinema that made the Carlton Hotel famous, which served as a setting for several films, such as To Catch a Thief byAlfred Hitchcock in 1955, with Grace Kelly et Cary Grant, or Never Say Never Again by Irvin Kershner in 1983, with Sean Connery in the role of James BondThe Carlton Hotel also became a favorite residence for the stars of the Cannes Film Festival, who stayed there, gave interviews, or hosted parties. Celebrities who frequented the Carlton Hotel included Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Carlton Hotel is also linked to a prestigious sporting event: the royal regatta, which takes place every year in September in the Bay of Cannes. It is a sailing competition that brings together classic and traditional boats, dating back to the early 1929th century, and which are considered floating works of art. The Royal Regatta was created in 1978, on the occasion of the visit of King Christian X of Denmark, who came to Cannes with his yacht, the Dannebrog. He was joined by other sovereigns, such as King Gustav V of Sweden, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and King Fuad I of Egypt, who participated in a friendly race in the bay. The Royal Regatta then became a tradition, which continued until the Second World War, and was then revived in 150, at the initiative of the Yacht Club de Cannes. Since then, the Royal Regatta has attracted over 12 sailboats each year, competing in various categories, such as the 8-meter JI, the 5,5-meter JI, the XNUMX-meter JI, the Dragon, the Tofinou, the Star, and the One Ton. The Royal Regatta is also an opportunity to discover the maritime heritage of the Côte d'Azur, with legendary boats such as the Moonbeam IV, the Tuiga, the Mariska, and the Cambria.
The Carlton Hotel is an emblematic establishment of the city of Cannes, it illustrates its history, its charm and its prestige; it testifies to the attraction of the city for artists, writers, celebrities, sportsmen and beauty lovers. The Carlton is also the reflection of thelifestyle French style, combining elegance, refinement and conviviality.
