HOTEL ASTON LA SCALA

At the Heart of Nice

The facade plan of the hotel in a Niçoise style dates back to January 21, 1868, signed by Taton. This large house with 500 rooms was commissioned by Victoire Schmitz, a Swiss businesswoman.

In the mid-19th century, Auguste Chauvain became the proud owner of this magnificent four-story building, transforming it into a namesake hotel for spa visitors.

Sir Thomas Coventry, born on January 16, 1797, in Brinden, England, was a lawyer and legal writer who retired to Nice to pursue his true passion: astronomy and meteorology. He always stayed at the Chauvain Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Nice at the time, located by the Paillon River (now the Aston La Scala Hotel). A legend claims that his wife, Elizabeth Littledale, a very talkative woman, had a hard time returning on time for lunch at the hotel after her morning walks. Sir Thomas Coventry decided to fire a cannon at noon from Castle Hill after seeking permission from the Mayor of Nice, Mr. Malausséna.

But in reality… She was not responsible for preparing her husband's lunch! Mrs. Coventry's inheritance from her father, Judge Littledale, in 1842, allowed the couple to spend their winters in Nice, a winter resort town with mild weather. Wealthy “blue-blooded” families from across Europe came here during the winter.

… And Sir Thomas Coventry wasn’t concerned about lunch; he was focused on accurate time measurement. Church bells rang at different times throughout the city, and Coventry wanted to establish precise timekeeping, which he could provide through his instruments and astronomical expertise. On November 10, 1861, he wrote to the mayor, François Malausséna, requesting permission to fire a small cannon precisely at noon. He would determine the exact time and cover the operation's costs. The request was approved.

The Chauvain Hotel featured a large terrace, part of which Sir Thomas Coventry used to set up his astronomical and meteorological observation instruments (including a time ball). This famous mechanical model with black and red balls – visible from the castle – would be raised five minutes before noon. The time ball would fall slowly at noon, signaling the cannon fire.

In 1928, the hotel was converted into an annex of the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture. It later became the Hotel de la Paix. In 1975, architect Guy Lamblin transformed the property, renaming it the Aston Hotel. It was later renamed the Grand Hôtel Aston and, after a final renovation of its rooms in 2014, became the Hôtel Aston La Scala.