Description
The exterior of the Villa
The northern façade
Evocative of an Italian palazzo, this façade is made up of four parts: on the far left, a staircase tower with a very open, fantastical design; on the far right, a low, porticoed wing which draws its inspiration from the Italian Renaissance; in the centre, an entrance porch in a flamboyant Gothic style and an internal staircase bay in the style of the Florentine Renaissance.
In the courtyard, there is a Venetian well made from Verona marble and curious wrought iron, as well as a backdrop of vegetation decorated with bas-reliefs from Catalan cloisters, and a fountain with a Crouching Venus who appears to be getting out of her bath.
The southern façade
More than the other façades, this appears to have been designed to be viewed from a distance and from various viewpoints. It is therefore on a larger scale and exceptionally symmetrical. It also has a greater number of references: all the designs come from the Florence and Venice schools. For example, the frames in the bays and the pilasters form a strict geometric network, faithfully reproducing the style of some Venetian churches. What is more, the same types of marble are used: red Verona marble, white Carrara marble, light grey marble. These highly accurate reproductions were enabled by casts and photographs provided by Italian craftsmen and these references were then set in a modern composition, allowing for a few adaptations.
The French garden
Béatrice designed this main garden in the shape of ship’s deck, decorated with waterfalls and ponds, with the Temple of Love at the bow. And, as she could see the sea on either side, she could imagine being on board the steamship “Ile de France”, which is the name she gave to the Villa in memory of an unforgettable voyage. From the loggia, Admiral Béatrice could survey her team of thirty gardeners, all wearing berets with a red pompom!
Trees such as hundred-year-old olive trees, cypress hedges and Aleppo pines have been given pride of place in the garden. During the night, cleverly arranged lamps lit up their foliage and also the large pond. This meant that Béatrice could also admire the spectacle from a distance as she returned from her baccarat parties or from the casino at Monte Carlo.
This garden comprises a high flowerbed in front of the Villa, lawns decorated with flame-topped urns and large Italian Renaissance urns called “cardinal vases”, a large oval flowerbed with a channel and ornamental ponds, and an exotic touch provided by palm trees and the scent of agaves.
To add to the fairytale feel, musical fountains spring from the large pond like a grand aquatic ballet.
The Villa’s gardens have been cultivated according to the principles of organic cultivation in recent years. All the chemical treatments have been replaced by:
– nettle fertilizer,
– organic fertilizer,
– ozone treatment of the basins
– the use of ladybirds to eliminate aphids on roses,
– rapeseed oil treatments for the orange trees,
– biostimulants for the boxwood,
– and a treatment for roses using a lemon- and savory-based product.
- Guest capacity: 50 to 500
- Rental price (from and to): The price of the menu includes the rent of the space
- Menu price per person (from and to): 119€ to 186€
- Accommodation: No
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