The Grand Hotel Bellevue is a special building in the Belgian seaside resort of Westende. It is popularly called “Rotonde”.
It stands like a beacon on the embankment of the seaside resort and is a living reminder of the bustling Belle Epoque with its unique architecture. The hotel was twice destroyed by war, but it survived, making it a unique relic from a bygone era.
It was built from 1909 to 1911, according to the design of the famous architect Octave Van Rysselberghe (1855 – 1929). The building had a progressive construction method of reinforced concrete. The luxury hotel was opened in June 1911 and then had 120 rooms. Princes, kings and empires from all over Europe found a home there. After the Second World War, only the ground floor was used as a hotel. The rest of the building was converted into apartments.
In 1984 the building was protected as a monument and in 1996 also the interior. For several years now, the Rotonde has been privately owned and is no longer operated as a hotel.