Such a setting could that seduce the filmmakers

Built to accommodate, in the early 19th century, nobles and rulers who came to spend the winter on the Côte d'Azur, the Negresco, with its owner, Jeanne Augier, seduces lovers of art from around the world.

That would be the English without the Negresco Parkway! Imperturbable Lookout, its pink dome dominates the Bay of angels soon a century. Its silhouette mass but elegant, his Valet in uniform, guardians of the tradition big style French houses, have been immortalized by millions of cameras. Number of Directors as a "guest star" of their films. This exceptional destiny, the Negresco is two of its owners, its founder, Henri Negrescu, and Jeanne Augier, who presides over the destinies of the palace since 1957.

The son of an innkeeper in Bucharest, born in 1868, Henri Negrescu part seek fortune in France. After Paris, he decided to try his luck on the Côte d'Azur. The sovereigns of Europe come taste the sweetness of climate winter and take advantage of this light that fascinates both painters. Director of casino in Nice, Henri Negrescu imagine a palace that would be the appointment of the crowned heads. He managed to convince the car manufacturer Alexandre Darracq to fund the project, the plans are entrusted to the architect Edouard Niemans and Gustave Eiffel is chosen to build the dome. The inauguration of the largest palace of the coast, in the presence of seven sovereigns, is date in 1913. The success was immediate but the first world war breaks the dreams of the Romanian bold. The Negresco is then transformed into hospital and its unlucky owner died bankrupt in 1920.

The palace was struggling to find his superb passing from hand to hand. Picked up by a Belgian company, it will be finally purchased in 1957 by Jeanne and Paul Augier. "Never I I would have imagined hotel", that which is imposed as the first woman in France at the head of a palace says. Jeanne Augier made his debut in real estate development, family reasons forced him to change lanes. She decides to invest in the renewal of the Negresco, that it wants to make an exceptional institution, a "Hotel Museum to the glory of the French artistic creation."

Betting account, the Negresco is today classified historic Monument. The antipodes of the impersonal standard for some major hotels, the palace offers original decoration which every detail has been studied for each of the 150 rooms and suites. Styles Empire, Louis XIV, Louis XV and contemporary art coexist harmoniously in the rooms, corridors and rooms. Used European sales rooms, Jeanne Augier identifies and invests often on his personal money. In the living room Versailles, the foot of the Sun King portrait, signed Hyacinthe Rigaud, is one of the three originals painted by the artist, the other two are at the Louvre and Versailles. The royal show, dominated by the canopy exit workshops of Gustave Eiffel, is home to a huge chandelier composed of 16,800 Baccarat Crystal pieces. It is identical to that which was commanded by the tsar to Russia and can be seen in the Kremlin. Carpets are creations of Raymond Moretti and air despite its curvaceous, it is the "Yellow Nana", sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle, who was a personal friend of Jeanne Augier, which welcomes the visitors.

Such a setting could that seduce the filmmakers. More than 30 films were thus shot in part at the Negresco. The last shooting dates back earlier this year under the direction of Thierry Klifa with Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Lanvin. Show business stars and international celebrities have their habits in the Negresco, later Montserrat Caballé, a member of the palace was occupied also by Jacques Chirac, Alain Delon, Michael Johnson... The anonymous, in love with art, to suggest also seduce, Americans at the top, followed by French, English and Italian. "We have an international clientele comprising 70 of individual," said Nicole Spitz, its Executive Director for a decade. Long General governess of the Negresco, it is returned at the request of Jeanne Augier, after a few years in the Relais & Châteaux network. The two women were accustomed to working together, but the decoration remains the domain of the President. Everything is done in-house. Painting, carpentry, upholstery... different trade bodies are 25 people on 117 employees.

At the age of eighty-three, Jeanne Augier prepares the transmission. Without heir, she decided to leave assets to a foundation which will have the mission to preserve the hotel with all its artistic wealth. Offers to purchase have yet made, "I have received more than 100 proposals, a US billionaire even offered me a blank cheque," but the President of the Negresco, unconditional of the preservation of the French artistic heritage, the important point is to think of the younger generations.