Henry Negresco built the hotel which was named for him. He was the son of a Roumanian inkeeper and left home at the tender age of 15 to make his way in the world. He worked in Paris, Monaco and eventually in Nice where he became director of the municipal casino. He was extremely well known and heads of state and princes and people such as the Vanderbilts and Rockerfellers and Singers had all heard of him.
His aim was to build a luxury hotel which would draw prestigious clientelle from around the world and so he hired the talented architect Edouard Neimans. The famous dome was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Unfortunately for Henry war broke out soon after the inauguration of the hotel and it became a hospital for wounded soldiers. This ultimately led to Henri's ruin.
In 1957 Monsieur and Madam Augier bought the hotel and madame continued to run it after the death of her husband. Madame Augier is passionate about art and the hotel is beautifully furnished with antique french furniture arranged on the different floors of the hotel according to their period.it is said that the Hotel houses more art than many municipal museums. Works of art include several classic Louis XV portraits and Nana, a great canary-yellow sculpture of a voluptuous bathing beauty by Niki de Saint Phalle.
The Baccarat chandalier which hangs in the Hotel has 16,209 chrystals, weighs about a tonne and was made for Tsar Nicholos II. Unfortunately due to the October Revolution he was never able to take delivery. There are only 2 such chandeliers in the world.
In 2003 the Negresco was listed as a national historic monument, a well earned recognition for the hotel, its architecture and the collection which it houses.
The tradional rendez-vous of politicians, artists, writers and members of high society from all over the world the Negresco has been honoured to welcome Queen Elizabeth of England, Hiro Ito Emperor of Japan, 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, Nicholas Sarkosy and Bill Gates.
The Negresco was also the location of a film starring Catherine Deneuve in 2006. "Le Heros de la famille".
Hotel Negresco lights up at night
Scene's from Nice - all walking distance from the Hotel Neresco
