Hôtel Byblos

Hôtel Byblos, also known as Le Byblos, is a luxury hotel in Saint-Tropez in France's Var region. It was conceived and built by Lebanese hotelier Jean-Prosper Gay-Para, who sought to create a property that would connect the Côte d'Azur with Lebanon and the wider world of international travel. The hotel takes its name from Byblos, the ancient Lebanese port city, and its architecture deliberately differs from the monumental grand hotels associated with Cannes and Monte Carlo. Instead of presenting itself as one large palace, it is arranged as a compact village or hamlet of connected low-rise buildings, with a reported built area of approximately 5,500 square metres. Construction began in 1965, and the hotel opened on 27 May 1967 in the presence of Brigitte Bardot and Mireille Darc. More than 700 guests attended the inauguration, including figures from French cinema, fashion, music, tourism and business. The opening established the hotel's enduring association with Saint-Tropez's social and cultural life. Its early identity was shaped not only by accommodation but also by hospitality, entertainment and the circulation of prominent visitors. Les Caves du Roy, the hotel's nightclub, opened in July 1967 and became one of the most recognizable nightlife venues in the resort. The hotel's first operating period was interrupted by the Six-Day War in June 1967. Gay-Para returned to Beirut to manage his hotels, and Hôtel Byblos was sold to businessman Sylvain Floirat on 19 September of that year. Under its subsequent ownership and management, the property continued to develop as a destination for international celebrities and affluent holidaymakers. Mick Jagger and Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias were married at the hotel in 1971, an event that reinforced its public image as a setting for high-profile social occasions. Later visitors from entertainment and popular culture further sustained that reputation. Hôtel Byblos operates seasonally, generally opening from April through October and closing during the winter. The property has 91 rooms, including 50 suites, together with restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and nightlife facilities. Its restaurant offer has included Rivea at Byblos, designed with the participation of Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio. The hotel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2017 through a series of luxury-brand partnerships and renovations, including work on the largest suite and a refurbishment of Les Caves du Roy. On 28 June 2012, Hôtel Byblos received France's prestigious palace designation. The distinction is subject to periodic renewal rather than being permanent. According to the cited reference material, the hotel was removed from the official Atout France list in 2025 and therefore no longer held the designation at that point. The property remains known for its combination of seasonal resort lodging, upscale dining, nightlife and a strongly established cultural identity within Saint-Tropez.

Hôtel Byblos was developed in Saint-Tropez by Lebanese hotelier Jean-Prosper Gay-Para. The project began in 1965 and was intended to create a distinctive luxury property inspired by both Lebanon and Saint-Tropez. Its name refers to Byblos, the Lebanese port city, while the design evokes a Mediterranean village rather than the large monumental hotels of Cannes or Monte Carlo. The hotel consists of connected small buildings spread across approximately 5,500 square metres, giving it the appearance of a private hamlet. The hotel opened on 27 May 1967. Brigitte Bardot and Mireille Darc attended the inauguration, which attracted more than 700 guests from the worlds of film, fashion, music, tourism and business. The opening team included Gay-Para, his wife Médéa and director Francis Ducluzeau. In July of the same year, Les Caves du Roy opened as the hotel's nightclub and rapidly became a major part of Saint-Tropez nightlife. The Six-Day War, which began in June 1967, changed the founder's plans. Gay-Para returned to Beirut to oversee his hotel interests there, and Hôtel Byblos was sold to businessman Sylvain Floirat on 19 September 1967. The property nevertheless retained the international and celebrity-oriented character established at its opening. In 1971, Mick Jagger married Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias at the hotel. The event became one of the most visible examples of the property's role in high-profile social life, and the hotel continued to attract media personalities and international stars in later decades. The modern property operates seasonally, generally from April to October. It contains 91 rooms, including 50 suites, and combines accommodation with restaurants, bars, a pool and nightclub facilities. Its restaurant portfolio has included Rivea at Byblos, for which Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio was engaged. This combination of lodging, dining and nightlife has allowed the hotel to function as a destination rather than simply as a place to stay. In 2012, the French authorities granted Hôtel Byblos the palace designation. The status is awarded for a limited period and requires periodic renewal. The hotel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2017, marking the occasion with collaborations involving Audemars Piguet, Rolls-Royce, Dom Pérignon, Goyard, Sisley and Missoni Home. The largest suite was redecorated and Les Caves du Roy was remodeled. The cited reference material states that the hotel lost its palace designation in 2025 and was no longer on the official Atout France list. It remains an active seasonal luxury hotel and an established symbol of Saint-Tropez's international resort culture.

• 2025

  Palace designation ends

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  The cited reference states that Hôtel Byblos is no longer included on the official French palace list.

• 2017

  Fiftieth anniversary renovation program

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel marks its fiftieth anniversary with partner activations, a suite redesign and remodeling of Les Caves du Roy.

• 2012

  Palace designation awarded

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  Hôtel Byblos receives France's prestigious palace designation.

• 1971

  Celebrity wedding at the hotel

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  Mick Jagger marries Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias at Hôtel Byblos.

• 1967

  Hotel inauguration

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  Hôtel Byblos opens on 27 May with a large celebrity and civic gathering.

• 1967

  Les Caves du Roy opens

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel's nightclub begins operating in July and becomes central to its nightlife identity.

• 1967

  Sale to Sylvain Floirat

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  After Gay-Para returns to Beirut during the Six-Day War, the property is sold to businessman Sylvain Floirat on 19 September.

• 1965

  Construction begins

  [1]Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org

  Jean-Prosper Gay-Para begins construction of a Lebanese- and Saint-Tropez-inspired luxury hotel in Saint-Tropez.

An iconic, high-end Saint-Tropez resort hotel combining village-style architecture, luxury accommodation, dining, nightlife and celebrity-oriented hospitality.

• Hotel accommodation · 1967

  Guest rooms

  The property offers 91 rooms in a village-like arrangement of connected buildings. Its accommodation mix includes 50 suites, supporting the hotel's positioning toward luxury leisure travelers and high-profile guests. The seasonal operating model is oriented toward the Saint-Tropez summer resort calendar.

• Hotel accommodation · 1967

  Luxury suites

  Suites are a central part of the Byblos accommodation offer. The largest suite was redecorated as part of the property's fiftieth-anniversary program in 2017, in collaboration with Missoni Home. The available reference material identifies that suite as measuring 180 square metres.

• Nightclub · 1967

  Les Caves du Roy

  Les Caves du Roy is the hotel's signature nightclub. Opened in July 1967, it became closely associated with Saint-Tropez nightlife and the Byblos brand's celebrity-oriented atmosphere. The venue was remodeled during the hotel's fiftieth-anniversary celebrations in 2017.

• Restaurant

  Rivea at Byblos

  Rivea at Byblos is a restaurant within the hotel complex. The available reference material identifies Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio as having been engaged for its design, reflecting the property's strategy of combining luxury dining with its accommodation and nightlife offer.

• 2017Byblos and Les Caves du Roy 50th anniversary

  France

  The anniversary program used partnerships with Audemars Piguet, Rolls-Royce, Dom Pérignon, Goyard, Sisley and Missoni Home to reinforce the hotel's luxury positioning. It included redecoration of the largest suite and remodeling of Les Caves du Roy.

  Outcome. The celebration refreshed both the guest accommodation and the nightclub while linking the anniversary to prominent luxury and lifestyle brands.

  Source

• 2017

  Fiftieth-anniversary refurbishmentGeneration change

  Background

  The hotel used its fiftieth anniversary as an opportunity to renew important guest and nightlife spaces.

  Action taken

  The largest suite was redecorated and Les Caves du Roy was remodeled, with Missoni Home among the named partners.

  Aftermath

  The work supported the continued presentation of Byblos as a contemporary luxury resort while preserving its historic identity.

  Source

• 1967

  Move toward a Lebanese-inspired village hotelStrategy

  Background

  The founders sought to distinguish the property from the monumental luxury hotels of Cannes and Monte Carlo and to connect Saint-Tropez with Lebanon and international jet-set culture.

  Action taken

  The hotel was named after the Lebanese port of Byblos and built as a collection of connected small buildings resembling a Mediterranean hamlet.

  Aftermath

  The architectural concept became one of the hotel's defining brand characteristics.

  Source

• 1967

  Sale to Sylvain FloiratM&A

  Background

  The Six-Day War prompted Jean-Prosper Gay-Para to return to Beirut to manage his hotels.

  Action taken

  Hôtel Byblos was sold to businessman Sylvain Floirat on 19 September 1967.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating as a Saint-Tropez luxury and nightlife destination under new ownership.

  Source

1. 1Hôtel Byblosen.wikipedia.org