The most beautiful villas
on the French Riviera
— History & Stars

Villa Leopolda is considered by many to be the most expensive private property in the world. Perched on the heights between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, overlooking the Mediterranean with a sovereign gaze, it was erected in 1902 on the land of King Leopold II of Belgium — who had discreetly acquired entire sections of the azure coastline at the end of the 19th century, often in the name of intermediaries to mask his purchases.

The king gifted the property to his mistress, Blanche Delacroix. The villa then passed through several illustrious hands before being purchased in 1987 by the Lebanese-Brazilian banker Edmond Safra and his wife Lily, who commissioned extravagant renovations. Parties there brought together the world's elite—tulips arrived by plane from Holland, the Michelin-starred chef Roger Vergé catered the banquets, and Sergio Mendes flew in from California with his entire orchestra.

On the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula—the town with the highest price per square meter in France—Villa Les Cèdres is one of the most impressive properties in Europe. Built nearly 200 years ago, it also once belonged to King Leopold II of Belgium. The 1,700-square-meter residence sits within a 14-hectare estate that boasts an exceptional exotic and botanical garden—one of the richest in France, featuring rare species from around the world.

Put up for sale in 2016 for between 300 and 500 million euros, according to Le Figaro, the estate was finally sold in 2019 to a wealthy Ukrainian for 200 million euros—one of the largest real estate transactions ever recorded in France. The property has been listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage since 2008.

There are places that carry their legend like a perfume. Villa Nellcôte—built in 1899 by the banker Eugène Thomas under the name Château Amicitia—is one of the most incredible showcases of the Belle Époque on the French Riviera. With its four-meter-high ceilings, imposing Ionic marble columns, moldings, and gilding, the property overlooks the bay of Villefranche, nestled within a hectare of lush vegetation.

In 1971, Keith Richards rented the villa for £2,500 a month. The Rolling Stones moved in with their mobile studio and recorded what would become their masterpiece, Exile on Main Street,. The other members had also taken up residence on the Riviera—Mick Jagger in Biot, Bill Wyman in Mougins. For over a year, Nellcôte lived to the rhythm of memorable late-night sessions and epic parties where the cream of the global star system mingled.

Built between 1905 and 1912 at the top of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the most beautiful Italian Renaissance-style palaces on the French Riviera. Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, captivated by the beauty of the site, devoted seven years and considerable resources to building this pink residence—which was also an act of love for the Mediterranean.

The villa houses a collection of art objects, porcelain, precious furniture, paintings and tapestries that belonged to the Baroness. But perhaps its seven themed gardens — a French garden with fountains, a Japanese garden, a Provençal garden, a rose garden, and an exotic garden — are the most precious treasure of the site, with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean on both sides of the peninsula.

In 1927, the British novelist Somerset Maugham—one of the most widely read and wealthiest writers of his time—acquired a Moorish-style villa on Cap Ferrat and had it completely remodeled by the American architect Barry Dierks. La Mauresque became his main residence until his death in 1965, and one of the most sought-after salons on the Riviera.

Winston Churchill, Noël Coward, Jean Cocteau, H.G. Wells, T.S. Eliot, Ian Fleming, Charlie Chaplin, King Edward VIII of England and his future wife Wallis Simpson—the list of illustrious guests at La Mauresque reads like a veritable pantheon of the 20th century. Maugham wrote several of his most famous novels there and hosted the international literary and social elite for nearly forty years.

High above Mougins—a hilltop village in the Cannes hinterland, long a haven for artists—Pablo Picasso spent the last twelve years of his life in this 35-room farmhouse. He worked there until his final days, producing a considerable body of work despite his advanced age. The 800-square-meter property, with its 10 bedrooms, two swimming pools, tennis court, and spa, is nestled within a wooded estate of exceptional beauty.

After Picasso's death in 1973, and that of his wife Jacqueline, the estate was sold by their daughter for approximately €10 million in the late 1980s. In 2017, the property was offered at auction but, lacking sufficient bidders, was sold for just over €20 million. More recently, a €114 million investment was announced to transform the estate into an international art center.

Built in 1880 by the son of an arms dealer, La Fleur du Cap — originally named Villa Socoglio — has hosted some of the most illustrious figures of the 20th century over the decades. The Duchess of Marlborough, King Leopold III of Belgium, Charlie Chaplin, and David Niven all resided there, contributing to the legend of this seaside villa on Cap Ferrat.

On the Pointe de la Veille in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin — between Monaco and Menton — Villa La Vigie was acquired and completely renovated by Karl Lagerfeld from the late 1980s. The artistic director of Chanel imprinted his instantly recognizable aesthetic signature on it, transforming this property built in 1902 into a personal manifesto of grand style.