L'orient palace

I'm a big fan of Belle Époque palaces, so I got completely absorbed in this building's history, which starts in 1847. Reading about the changes made to prestigious buildings like this one was fascinating and informative. Somehow, by the 1920s, it had taken on a deliberately Oriental style, while still serving as a residence for wealthy people. After learning a little about the place, I wandered around and admired the elegant building in person. Its carefully tended garden kept me under its spell, and the decorative details add to the whole setting.

The building still has the stately look of a palace, and its striking façade recalls the grandeur of Riviera grand hotels from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today it is mainly home to residents and owners who care about preserving its architectural heritage. It became an apartment building in 1952, after tourism changed following the Second World War and the hotel gradually stopped operating. Its earlier story began around 1874, when an existing residence was turned into the Grand Hôtel d’Orient to welcome wealthy winter visitors drawn by the French Riviera's mild climate. The property was expanded and restructured around that time in an elegant neoclassical style. Wealthy Europeans would stay for months, and some even decorated their suites to feel at home. In the 1920s it took on an Orientalist style, giving it the name Orient and reflecting the era's exotic tastes. It became one of Menton's iconic Belle Époque hotels.

The building is peaceful and very conveniently placed: the beach is 200m away, St Roch parking lot is right next door, and there's a small supermarket downstairs that's handy for holiday shopping. It's a lovely place with plenty of history. The apartment was a good stay overall, though the kitchen and bathrooms felt a bit dated.

There isn't a hotel here anymore; the rooms are rented as Airbnb or vacation rentals. Our room was in a pretty deplorable state, though you could manage a few days there. The location is good, with nice shops nearby and the sea very close.