Hotel Martinez

Cannes

Although Cannes today is synonymous with glamour, the red carpet, stars and starlets, this was not always the case. Protected by the hills and the Esterel massif, Cannes was for a long time, a small fishing port under the aegis of the abbeys on the Lérins Islands. The La Castres medieval chateau built in the 12^th century by order of the monks, overlooks the Baie des Anges (Angel’s Bay) and bears witness to the city’s past history.

In the old city, the Suquet quarter has conserved its labyrinth of picturesque narrow and winding streets, its staircases and its old houses. Cannes first became known in the 19^th century when Lord Brougham, the Grand Chancellor of England stopped here with his daughter, and immediately succumbed to the charms of this lovely village. He settled here in the winter, in the Villa Eleanora which he had built in honor of his daughter and which bore her name. As he was very influential in the circles of English royalty, his presence in Cannes attracted all of Europe’s aristocracy, who had palaces and sumptuous secondary residences built for them.

In 1946, when the Cannes Film Festival began, the city was already famous throughout the world. Its magnificent bay, bordered by palm trees, its mild Mediterranean climate and its magnificent view of the mysterious Lérins Islands have made Cannes a dream destination for many decades. The presence of international film stars during the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most celebrated events in the world, has made the city an important and prestigious center of French luxury.

The most exclusive brand names, mythical places like the legendary Croisette, magnificent palace hotels and the Festival Palace with its legendary red carpet and stairs leading to the entrance have placed Cannes in the limelight. And yet, in addition to its renown as the vacation spot for the rich and famous, Cannes has retained its authenticity and its village like past which is most visible in the old houses located on the Suquet hill.

A cinema hotel

Looking down over the Mediterranean from its seventh and top floor, the Hotel Martinez stands proudly, like an elegant silhouette on Boulevard de la Croisette. Built in the late 1920s, the Martinez is situated on the site of the former the King of Naples Villa, a highly mundane site at the beginning of the 20^th century.

When it opened, in 1929, the Martinez was the largest establishment on the entire Côte d’Azur. From that era, it has conserved its art deco style to which contemporary additions and comforts have been added. Renovated in 2003, the front of the hotel now has an imposing round canopy under which film stars from all over the world have been dropped off by their chauffeurs before entering the totally marble hall.

The hotel’s 409 rooms are decorated in classical art deco style. Wood paneling, furniture by well-known designers, lithographs by renowned artists including Duffy and Picasso, painting and sculptures are complemented by ultra modern equipment including wi-fi internet access. The ivory and ocher tones highlight the sober but luxurious décor. Each room has a living room space and marble bathrooms. Ranging in size from 30 to 100 square meters, some rooms have their own private terrace with a magnificent view of either the Mediterranean or the old city.

The Martinez also has its own private beach, the Zplage, the largest on the Croisette. The hotel has three restaurants including the famous Palme d’Or with two stars in the prestigious Michelin Guide and whose interior décor is totally dedicated to the world of cinema, a heated swimming pool and a 900 square meter space dedicated to health and beauty care. The Martinez is synonymous with the Cannes Film Festival and has become the general headquarters for film stars as well as the site of unforgettable parties and celebrations.

The entire team of the French television station, Canal Plus, uses the hotel’s private beach for its fifteen day live coverage of the Film Festival including the opening and closing ceremonies.