The history of La Malmaison is closely intertwined with that of the Grand Hôtel.
The foundation stone of the Grand Hôtel was laid on 10 June 1863, on land sold by Mr Woolfield, and the building was constructed under the direction of architects Charles Baron and Laurent Vianay. The hotel was inaugurated on 1 October 1864 by a five-year-old boy who would later become King of Yugoslavia, Alexander I.
General view of the Grand Hôtel (Late 19th century)
Then, In 1868, the construction of the villa La Malmaison, near the Cercle Nautique, included a tearoom opening onto the garden and the promenade of the Croisette. The upper floor of the villa served as an annex for the staff of the Grand Hôtel.
In 1901, the original villa was replaced by a larger construction by its owners, the Dubosc couple. Designed with the utmost comfort for the time, it spanned four floors and featured a reception room, a boudoir, a billiard room, a reading room, a dining room, a large kitchen, 18 master bedrooms, including four with loggias, heating and electricity, a telephone, and nine rooms for domestic staff.
The villa's furnishings were among the most comfortable and luxurious. From the villa's windows, one could enjoy a stunning panorama of the city, the Lérins Islands, and the Estérel Massif.
The Grand Hotel and Union Golf Club (1905)
In 1902, the villa of the Grand Hôtel, owned by Jeanne Marguerite Dubosc, became the venue for the activities of a new club, the "Cercle de l'Union Club" or "Golfers' Club," established at the initiative of H.I.H. Grand Duke Michael of Russia. This club was specifically designed as a place for golfers to relax and enjoy themselves after returning from the Golf Club, offering billiards, card games, bridge, poker, and baccarat. Women were admitted to separate lounges, except during meals.
Like the Cercle Nautique, this club required the sponsorship of two members for new applicants and charged a very high membership fee.
The Grand Hôtel and Villa La Malmaison circa 1920
La Croisette and the Villa La Malmaison circa 1920
The villa was known as Villa Dubosc until the 1930s, when it was renamed La Malmaison.
In 1935, the villa became the property of Sir John Edward Crawford, a wealthy former aviation officer.
On 20 September 1946, the gardens and lounges of the Grand Hôtel and La Malmaison served as the backdrop for the opening of the first film festival.
On 25 September 1969, the municipality purchased the villa as part of a project to extend the Palais des Festivals westward. The villa, the last surviving witness of the Belle Époque on the Croisette, was then occupied by various municipal services: the cultural affairs department moved to the first floor, Radio-Cannes operated on the second floor for several years before being replaced by the communications department and the Cannes Cinéma association.
From 1970, the villa hosted the municipality’s art exhibitions under the name Centre d’Art La Malmaison. Every May, it housed the team of the Directors’ Fortnight. La Malmaison, together with the Grand Hôtel, forms part of the seafront area known as the Boulevard de la Croisette, listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage as part of the survey of Cannes' seaside heritage.
Since 2018, the entire building has been dedicated to the city's contemporary art centre.
Exhibition “Pierre et Gilles - Le goût du cinéma” (2019-2020)
In July 2023, the municipality launched an extensive modernisation project for this iconic venue, ensuring the preservation of its historical identity. On 31 January 2025, a major international contemporary art centre opened its doors at the heart of the renowned Malmaison. The new art centre now boasts a tripled exhibition space (from 207 to 600 m²), enabling it to host prestigious collections of global significance and exceptional loaned artworks.
The new Contemporary Art Center - La Malmaison
