InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu

The InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu has a rich and wonderful history that matches its facade. The grounds held a hospital for hundreds of years, starting in the 12th century. After an addition to the building, the Hotel Dieu was inaugurated by Napoleon III in 1866, featuring a French baroque style that later had elements of neoclassicism woven in. It reopened as an InterContinental hotel in 2013 after three years of renovations. Much of the grand exterior has been maintained, including the tall, wrought-iron entry gate and intricate stone facade, with notable tweaks such as a glass awning and rows of trimmed hedges. The interior melds influences from sleek 20th-century modernism and urbane elements of Art Deco. The result is a lobby that has the cozy upscale style of a designer's luxurious living room with Corbusier-style couches, velvet chairs in chocolate and charcoal tones, and marine-inspired reliefs that nod to Marseille's nautical history. Contemporary art statues of animals such as a bear, gorilla, and wolves pop up on the front lawn and terrace that overlooks the city. The hotel has a mix of tradition and couture that speaks well to design-minded couples and top-level executives.

The InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu is on Panier Hill, affording it great views of Marseille from its manicured grounds. A walk downhill leads to Le Panier, the city's charming Old Town, filled with cafes, tucked-away squares, and shops selling artisan wares. Historic sights are woven throughout the quarter's terrace house-lined lanes. The star attraction is Centre de la Vieille Charité, a museum and cultural center in a domed 17th-century building, a six-minute walk from the hotel. Theaters, department stores, and restaurants are also nearby. Guests are also well-positioned for jaunts to Vieux Port, the town's early fishing port, just a 10-minute walk away. It offers shopping and plenty of family-friendly activities. Some of the city's notable sights require a short ride. The Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, which has one of the best views of the landscape, is about 10 minutes away by car or 25 minutes by bus or metro. The nearest bus station, Place Bargemon, is about one minute away on foot. The metro is limited in the areas of the city it covers. The nearest metro station is Vieux Port, a seven-minute walk from the hotel. The Parc National des Calanques, a coastline retreat, is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Travelers arriving at the Marseille Airport should expect the drive to the InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu to take about 20 minutes. 

While the exterior of the InterContinental Marseille upholds its French Baroque tradition, the 194 rooms have a sleek, urbane style with a muted, natural color palette. There are some nice Provencal-inspired touches, such as understated floral-embroidered bed runners, and artwork featuring stylishly blurred images of the city. Furniture, including generously sized work desks, is grayish wood with a matte finish. Modern, cone-shaped black lamps hang beside beds with white leather headboards. Orchids and other fresh-cut flowers add an elegant touch. Rooms face the property's French garden or the harbor. Room sizes range from Classic to Executive, 301 to 441 square feet. Family Rooms fit four people and can be up to 538 square feet in size. The notable differences are in lounge spaces -- some rooms only have armchairs, while others add sofas. Some Executive Rooms and Junior Suites have furnished wooden terraces for gazing out over Vieux Port. Junior Suites measure 484 or 538 square feet and, with dining room tables and larger sofas, seem closer to apartments. The Presidential Suite has a claw-foot tub, a parlor space, and an extra-large terrace. All rooms have minibars and espresso machines. Flat-screen TVs, digital music players, and free, fast Wi-Fi also come as standard. Closets hold safes, robes, and slippers. Bathrooms are decorated in a serene palette of cream and white. They feature modern, designer fittings, separate tubs with European-style nozzles, and walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

The InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu has several impressive amenities with the Michelin star-awarded Alcyone at the top of the list. Chef Lionel Levy serves innovative French nouvelle cuisine focused on seafood dishes. Le Capian bar specializes in cocktails and light fare. Les Fenêtres is a brasserie that offers Mediterranean fare with distinctive details. Depending on the type of booking, the breakfast buffet may be included or extra. Generally, it receives positive reviews from guests for both the food and the view from the terrace where it's served. A la carte breakfast is also available for a reduced rate. For business executives and administrative planners, there's a 24-hour business center with PCs and 10 tech-equipped meeting rooms, plus five first-floor function rooms with private terraces. The amount of fitness machines in the exercise facilities is merely adequate, but the space is clean and bright. An indoor pool is just big enough to do laps in, and it's bordered with cushioned beds. The luxe Clarins Spa includes six treatment rooms for massages, facials, and body wraps. There are also steam baths, saunas, and a solarium. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Parking is available for a fee.