Salon Amélie

Today was the second European heritage day and the Hotel du Portugal opened its doors for a visit. We had a talk about the history of the hotel from the Belle Epoque up to the present day. One fascinating thing I learned about the village was that it was the St Tropez of its day. On weather maps in the English press, the weather in Vernet was included in a little inset along with UK resorts. Information and maps of Vernet could be found in the stations of many European capital cities.

From the Middle Ages, Vernet was renowned for its thermal spring. It was at the end of the 18th century and especially during the 19th century that the thermal spa experienced dramatic growth. This was, in part, due to the construction of the railway line from Perpignan to Villefranche de Conflent. Villas, a casino, and also many hotels including the Hotel du Portugal were built. Up until the Second World War, Vernet-les-Bains was a thriving and busy resort. The flood of 1940 abruptly changed the Vernet landscape. Every building near the river was washed away or destroyed. Only the Hotel du Portugal survived along with the Casino. Today the Hotel du Portugal is the property of the Army and provides holidays for those employed by the Ministry of Defence. The hotel was used by such illustrious personages as the viceroy of Egypt, Ibrahim Pasha, Rudyard Kipling, Princess Battenberg, Maurice Chevalier, Mistinguett and Paul Deschanel.