Hôtel des Princes, hôtel particulier à Eaux-Bonnes (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Hôtel des Princes is a private mansion in Eaux-Bonnes featuring a grand main building complemented by a pavilion built during the 1860s. The complex includes the principal structure along with adjacent houses named Prat-Dumas, Paris, and Cazaux, which together form a unified residential compound.
Built between 1854 and 1872 by architect Gustave Lévy, the mansion hosted notable figures including Empress Eugénie and the Viceroy of Egypt. These visits demonstrate the residence's importance as a destination for European high society.
The mansion functioned as a gathering place for nobility and wealthy visitors who played tennis and dined in its restaurants and tea rooms. Today, walking through its grounds reveals how the upper classes enjoyed leisure time during the 1800s and early 1900s.
The mansion is protected as a historical monument and can be viewed from outside, being centrally located in Eaux-Bonnes for easy access. Note that it remains private property and cannot be entered without special permission from the owners.
The residence hosted the inauguration dinner for the Buzy-Laruns railway line in July 1883, an event that marked its significance beyond being a retreat for the wealthy. This detail reveals how the property played a role in regional progress and infrastructure expansion.
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