The Swiss-French border cuts right through the Hôtel Arbez Franco-Suisse at exactly the left edge of the facade painting. This territorial border was established in 1862 by the International Treaty of Dappes, when the town of La Cure ceased to be entirely French but got subdivided together with Switzerland, yet leaving the existing structures in place.

Later a French businessman took advantage of this unique geo-political situation, and built a hotel above a grocery store located on the Swiss side of the border, and over an existing pub on the opposite French side.