As you enter Cerbère from Perpignan towards the French-Spanish border, you come face to face with an enormous concrete liner.
This ship on land was the Hôtel du Belvédère.
The bow of the building still bears the hotel's name inscribed on a chimney that never smoked.
Construction began in 1928 and took four years.
The building was designed by architect Léon Baille between 1928 and 1932, at the request of Jean Baptiste Deleon.
Mr. Deleon, owner of Le Belvédère, was a café owner in the Basque country. Through his work, he managed to obtain the management of the Buffet de la gare d'Hendaye.
At the frontier, it was fashionable to board at the establishment between trains or for sunny vacations.
And yet... and yet
Numerous artists have performed in the theater, including Fernandel, Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguett, or have frequented the venue, including Michèle Morgan, Gina Llolobrigida, Orson Welles, Bourvil, Francis Blanche and, more recently, Depardieu and Josée Dayan.
Since 1983, the Belvedere has been closed to the public.
The sound of the orchestra no longer resonated in the ballroom.
All that remained were memories of a bygone era.
Today, the Belvédère, listed as a historic monument since 1987, is being restored and is about to "take to the sea"... life is returning to normal.
Thanks to the efforts of its owner, Jean Charles Sin, great-grandson of Jean Baptiste Deleon, the Belvédère organizes several events each year: film screenings, tango, flamenco and oriental dance workshops, and painting, sculpture and photography exhibitions.
Classical music, jazz, various exhibitions and private parties.
Cinema screenings are also held throughout the year, and themed evenings take place in summer.
Architects from all over the world, including Americans and Europeans, come to study the monument. Numerous projects are under study, in particular by the Mediterranean Art Deco Association.
The gradual restoration of the building will enable this unique monument to regain its lustre.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Hôtel le belvédère
Avenue de la Côté Vermeille,
66290 Cerbère
Tel: 04.68.88.41.54 & 06.08.31.17.79
https://hotel-belvedere-cerbere.fr/
Translated with DeepL.com
(free version)
