Show Notes
Today, we’re on a sun-baked rock in Saint-Jean Bay - a once-forgotten Caribbean outpost that became St Barths. Jules and Richard trace how Rémy de Haenen’s daring landing and cliffside home gave rise to Eden Rock, and how an island once defined by scarcity became one of the world’s most discreetly glamorous escapes.
Check into Eden Rock, St Barths here.
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More from Hotels with History
We’re standing on Pariser Platz, beneath the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate, where Berlin has staged some of the twentieth century’s most dramatic scenes. In this episode, we'll explore how the Adlon became the city’s living room: an imperial showpiece, Weimar salon, wartime witness and Cold War casualty, before being rebuilt as a symbol of reunification, power and private drama in full public view.
In this episode, Jules and Richard delve into how Henry Flagler’s railway carried the Gilded Age elite to Palm Beach, and how The Breakers rose from wilderness, fire, hurricane and wartime service to become one of the great oceanfront survivors of American hospitality.
Picture being on a sweep of white sand where Rio meets the Atlantic. Through revolutions, dictatorship, and the moving of the capital itself, Jules and Richard trace how this luminous beachfront palace endured it all. They reflect on how this iconic property reflects Brazil’s wild glamour, political upheaval, mystery and irrepressible rhythm.
We’re spending this episode on the shores of Lake Como, at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. As Richard takes in one of the most fought-over views in Europe, we trace how this stretch of lake has shaped history; from Roman emperors and poets to silk merchants, Hollywood stars and modern-day icons. We explore how a family-run hotel has mirrored the changing idea of luxury itself, and why this landscape, constant through centuries, still holds such power over the imagination and all who visit.
How does a 19th century riverside rest house became the jewel of Bangkok? In this episode, Jules and Richard explore how this storied hotel has mirrored Thailand’s journey through empire, war and modernity. They reflect on why its jetty on the River of Kings remains one of the most evocative arrivals in the world.