HOTEL DU CAP CAP DU ANTIBES , FRANCE
By John Companiotte
44
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE
A select few hotels in the world are unique for their setting , their amenities , and their heritage – a tradition of unsurpassed hospitality . One of the most charming and luxurious of such destinations is the Hotel Du Cap on the French Cote D ’ Azur , in Cap d ’ Antibes .
The remarkable setting above the rocks has captivated all at first sight . When Le Figaro ’ s founder , Auguste De Villemessant , first set eyes on ‘ Le Cap ’, he envisaged Villa Soleil , a place of inspiration for writers . Villemessant wanted Villa Soleil to be a retreat for writers and artists overlooking the glistening sea . Paul de Fersen , creator of La Grande Allée , supports him financially , but it is his Russian brother-in-law , the debonair Alexis de Plestcheyeff , who truly launches the project . Also , a former captain of the Russian Imperial Garde , Alexis rallies support from rich French aristocrats . Five years later , in 1865 , Villa Soleil is opened as a writers ' retreat .
By January , 1870 , the Grand Hotel du Cap began her elegant history . It was visionary hotelier , Antoine Sella , who established a halcyon retreat for creative spirits and grand romantic encounters , and the Riviera legend was born . Painter Claude Monet is drawn to the irresistible beauty of the Cap , which inspired his collection of 35 Antibes landscapes .
Grand Hotel du Cap ’ s legendary launch party takes place on Saturday 26th February , 1870 . A special train from Nice brings 100 guests , many of whom had made the project possible . There are waltzes and mazurkas , and a lavish 15-course dinner with seafood delicacies and pheasants stuffed with Perigord truffles .
In 1887 , Sella , a young hotelier from Piedmont ( in present-day Italy ) came to Cap d ’ Antibes and discovered the original Villa Soleil in a state of abandon . Equipped with vision and an extraordinary talent for hospitality , Sella bought the hotel , renovated it and reopened as Grand Hotel du Cap , a destination that immediately attracted a distinguished clientele from across