place of beauty and tranquility , just as De Villemessant , back in 1865 , had hoped writers would . Shaw ’ s appreciation of the property harkened back to its original inspiration as a haven for writers . Shaw was the talk of Antibes with his beard and parasols .
In 1923 , friends of American author F . Scott Fitzgerald , Gerald and Sara Murphy , a wealthy young American couple , stayed at Grand Hotel du Cap for an entire summer adding to the appeal of both the hotel and the entire Cote D ’ Azur as a destination . By 1929 , 33 cabanas are erected above the rocks , becoming the most sought-after private hideaways for sunbathing and diving into the sea . These still exist today , with many enhanced features and comforts .
1933 saw the creation of the yacht club , while the swimming pool is enlarged and the tearoom becomes the Eden-Roc Restaurant . In Once again , the hotel served as a hospital during World War II . It even received some damage due to errant bombing activity , but
the property was restored to its original character shortly after the end of the war .
1946 , the first Cannes Film Festival is launched and on the 21st of August , Count and Countess d ’ Herbemont host a sumptuous party at Grand Hotel du Cap . A transatlantic liner drops anchor in Cannes . On it are movie stars Tyrone Power , Gary Cooper , Douglas Fairbanks , Paul Muni , George Raft and Norma Shearer .
In 1969 , a new era began for the property . Maja and Rudolph Oetker , who first visited the hotel in 1964 , never forgot about the hotel that cast its spell on them , as it had on so many others over the years . However , the Oetkers responded somewhat differently : they purchased the iconic property . The couple kept the teams in place , along with their family spirit , and renovated the hotel , the pavilion and the pool . The restaurant emerged from under the canvas awning to become the Eden-Roc dining
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