Palais Hongran

Palais Hongran stands in the heart of Nice's old town, a few steps from the beaches and the Cours Saleya market. The Hongran family built the mansion between 1769 and 1772 as a seaside residence. Its façade keeps the classic eighteenth-century style of the region. France has listed the building as a national monument since 2 December 2010, and that protection preserves its historical features.

It still works as a home, and you can rent several of the apartments inside for a stay. Each combines its original architectural details with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and fully equipped kitchens. Some windows frame the Mediterranean, and others look onto the rooftops of the old town or the mountains beyond. The interiors are said to be among the most impressive in Nice. Because the apartments are mostly private, the palace is not always open unless you are staying there.

Carved lintels above nearby doorways recall the people who lived here centuries ago. One story belongs to the top floor: Napoleon Bonaparte spent the night there in March 1796, during his Italian campaign.