Hôtel Excelsior, Protected heritage hotel in Aix-les-Bains, France.
Hôtel Excelsior is a six-story building in Aix-les-Bains featuring a limestone and cut stone facade decorated with Art Nouveau ironwork and stained glass windows in the entrance hall. The interior architecture showcases remarkable details, including an ornate staircase, an elevator shaft, and decorative iron railings that contribute to the building's overall elegance.
Built in 1906 by Genevan architect Alfred Olivet for hotelier Antoine Rossignoli, it served as an extension to the neighboring Hôtel Splendide. The building marked an important moment in Aix-les-Bains' development as a spa town, reflecting investments in luxury accommodations during that era.
The name reflects the luxury and excellence the hotel promised to its guests during the Belle Époque era. Today visitors can still see the ornate ironwork and stained glass in the entrance hall, which speak to the city's aspirations during that period.
The building sits on Rue Georges-Ier and is easy to spot from the street thanks to its distinctive facade and visible decorative elements. Today it operates as residential apartments, so interior access is limited, but visitors can appreciate the exterior architecture and ornate entrance from the street.
The staircase, elevator shaft, and iron railings received national monument status in 1987, highlighting the particular architectural value of these specific interior features. This selective protection shows how France honors certain building elements rather than just the entire structure.
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