A Classic 'Bastide Provençale' in the Côte d'Azur Hills

This property is listed for €2,750,000 by Savills French Riviera & Alps. 

A classic ‘Bastide Provençale’ in the Côte d'Azur hills, this property was recently renovated by Caprini & Pellerin Architectes, a Cannes-based team known for their work on luxury residential restoration work and elegant new builds on the French Riviera. 

Set on a 1.4 acre lot surrounded by hundred year old olive trees and lush Mediteranean vegetation, the 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home offers elegant amenities throughout, with 2  reception rooms and several covered terraces outside the home.  

The property is divided by the landscaped gardens and grand walkway that extends from the centre of the home leading to the oval mosaic-tile pool. Alongside the pool, there is an additional covered terrace with summer kitchen, and a pool house. 

Located just 10 minutes from the village of Valbonne, this charming bastide has everything one needs to fully enjoy la vie provençale.

All photos belong to the listing agency.

Palais Vénitien: 24,000 Square Feet of Opulence Overlooking Cannes

Address: Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur, 06400 France

This property is listed for €120,000,000 by Côte d'Azur Sotheby's International Realty. 

Set high above the city of Cannes with panoramic views of the French Riviera, the ‘Palais Vénitien’ is in a class of its own. The 24,000 square foot mega mansion was built by Cogemad, owned by Saudi billionaire Emad Khashoggi (real estate royalty known for the Chateau Louis XIV project that made headlines in 2018). 

Inspired by Byzantine and Venetian architecture, the property features monumental columns and fine molding details throughout the home. Outfitted with the latest high-tech home options without sacrificing style, the property is fully automated from a central system to control the lighting, music, and air conditioning systems. 

The villa features 9 residential suites, in addition to several reception rooms, a wine cellar (wines included in the sale), as well as a Turkish bath and indoor pool. The 6-acre lot is equally impressive as the sumptuous interiors, with luxurious amenities such as 2 outdoor pools, a tennis court, a private lake, and formal gardens offering sweeping views of the Cote D’Azur.   

All photos belong to the listing agency.

When You Dream of Provence, You Dream of Château de Montfort

Address: 442 Chemin de Montfort, 06480, La Colle-Sur-Loup France

This property is listed for €8,300,000 by Alex Balkin of Savills | French Riviera & French Alps.

Set within one lush hectare of Mediterranean beauty, this romantic Provençal chateau has it all: formal gardens, water fountains, and a dreamy poolscape.

This glamorous location is the perfect setting for entertaining and gathering, with several reception rooms and terraces. There are four guest villas in addition to the main chateau, for a total of 27 rooms and 13 bedrooms. 

The Château de Montfort is a Renaissance castle and former hunting lodge dates back to the 13th century, when it was a feudal castle that belonged to Romée de Villeneuve, a great seneschal of Provence. 

It was passed down until it was sold In 1501 to Jean-Antoine Lascaris II, Count of Tenda and Ventimiglia, to be given as a dowry for the marriage of his daughter Anne Lascaris to René of Savoy.

It would be René who would rebuild the castle and transform it into a grand hunting lodge, and the property we see today. He hired architects and sculptors from Genoa who added a Renaissance facade, a ‘Hall of Honour’ with timbered ceilings, and a fireplace bearing the arms of Great Bastard of Savoy (being the illegitimate son of the Duke of Savoy). In 1520, it officially became "Relais de Chasse du Territoire de Gaudelet" and remained unchanged until the 19th century.

In 1882, it was purchased by a prosperous merchant from Venice, Mr. Marcelin Mouton who fell in love with the castle. His articles on the castle and the region of Montfort were published in the Annals of Arts and Letters of the Alpes-Maritimes, 

In 1906, Lietta Thomas, Maitre d'Hotel in Nice purchased the estate. Enamoured with the beauty of the estate, he publishes postcards of the property that he used frequently in his correspondences with friends. His son would eventually register the Castle to Historical monuments.

Over the course of its illustrious history, the property has hosted French nobility and bourgeoisie, Pope Paul III, and the King of France (there’s an elaborate mural in the spiral staircase depicting his visit, now registered in the directory of Historical Monuments).

In the 90’s, watchman mogul Severin Wunderman purchased the property and embarked on a complete restoration of the chateau and some additions. A die hard fan for Jean Cocteau, he installed a pool designed by Cocteau (it’s signature remains) and set up a permanent exhibit of his works in the chateau. Many of these works are now housed at the Cocteau museum in Menton.

 The magic of this particular property would prove to be timeless. Château de Montfort is ideally located in the cradle of the Cote d’Azur, a short drive from the charming villages of Provence (St. Paul de Vence, La Colle-sur-Loup).

All photos belong to the listing agency.