Cap d'Antibes and the Bay of Billionaires

"In short, I saw water, sun, clouds and rocks - I can not tell anything else - and I simply thought, as we do when the tide lulls you, numbs you and walks" on the Water - Guy de Maupassant
 
Cap d'Antibes is a small piece of paradise on the French Riviera, home to billionaires castles, palaces and prestigious dream residences, enjoying an exceptional view of the Mediterranean, west of the Lerins islands, and on the east the first summits of the Mercantour.
 
Peninsula south of Antibes and east of Juan les Pins, Cap d'Antibes developped from the nineteenth century with the arrival of wealthy tourists from all over Europe who, seduced by the place built luxurious mansions there. Thus, when discussing the Cap d'Antibes, one thinks immediately of it’s wonderful 'billionaires' Bay', the prestigious villas and other luxurious residences nestled in the heart of a green oasis planted with pines, ancient olive trees and other Mediterranean species.
 
Yet the Cap d'Antibes has maintained a wild aspect which today gives it all it’s charm: with its limestone cliffs, deep coves and a majestic coastline, we discover along the Coastguard Path a ultra authentic and natural location.

Among other Palaces and prestigious residences of Cap d'Antibes, we note:

The hotel "Cap Eden Roc"

Deemed to be the most beautiful hotel in the world, originally the site was known under the name of Villa Soleil, built at the request of the founder of the newspaper Le Figaro, Mr. Auguste of Villemessant, inaugurated in 1870, and quickly became a refuge for writers. In 1887, Antoine Sella, young hotelier, fell under the charm of the site: in the beginning of 1889, the hotel du Cap opened its doors, attracting a luxurious clientele. Amongst the famous hosts, 1920' - George Bernard Shaw - Nobel Prize in Literature, 1935' The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, 1970' Marc Chagall… In 1969, the hotel was brought by Maja and Rudolph Oetker and lived many more moments of glory. Since 2009, the amFAR - American foundation of the fight against AIDS - organises a prestigious auction in which international celebrities participate and collect of millions of dollars.

The Villa Eilenroc

Remains an exception of neoclassical style built in 1860 by Charles Garnier, architect of the Operas of Paris and Monte Carlo. Located in the heart of a 11 hectares park planted with Mediterraneans essences typical of the Cote d'Azur landscape, as well as of a rose garden with 1000 varieties. The luxury property remains today a true symbol of luxury and the voluptuousness of the Belle-Epoque.

The castle of Croë

Victorian-style building constructed in 1927 by Armand-Albert Rateau at the request of Sir William Pomeroy Burton, president of the company Associated Newspapers Ltd, acquired in 1938 by the Duke of Windsor and former King Edward VIII UK, and then by Greek ship building tycoon Stavros Niarkos. In 2004, the Russian oligarch billionaire, Roman Abramovich became owner of the castle, located in the heart of a 8 hectare park designed by landscape architect Peter Wirtz.
 
The history of the Cap d'Antibes is closely linked to Antibes, which preserves each era in its history and rich heritage. Castles, bastion and Towers surrounded by walls are processed today in the Museum of Modern Art, Museum of History and Archeology or of popular traditions.
 
Visit the old Antibes drifting through the alleys in small squares, discover the charm of its small workshops, artisans working doors open, its shopkeepers and its facades discolored by the sun…
 
With 25 km of coastline with successive pebble beaches and sandy beaches, secret coves and 5 harbors-Galice, Crouton, Olivette, Salis and Vauban the largest marina in Europe, Antibes faces the Baie des Anges and is a city rich in history and culture, with many museums, including the Picasso Museum, the Fort Carré, Peynet Museum, site of several film shoots such as 'Do not get angry' in 1966, by Georges Lautner with Lino Ventura, Jean Lefèvre, Michel Constantin, Mireille Darc and Tommy Dugan or en1983 'never Say never' by Irvin Kershner, a James Bond with Sean Connery.
 
Finally, Antibes remains the city of writers, painters and artists, we will remember Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, frequented the hotel "Belle Rives", from Nikos Kazantzakis, William Somerset Maugham, Guy de Maupassant. Jacques Prevert, Claude Monet, Raymond Peynet or even Pablo Picasso...  

 

 

Related topics :  Cap d'Antibes villas for sale / Cannes villa for sale / Luxury villa rental Saint-Tropez / Luxury villas rentals French Riviera

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Côte d'Azur Sotheby's International Realty, your expert in luxury property rentals and sale in Cap d'Antibes