Located in the heart of the French Riviera between Villefranche sur Mer and Beaulieu Sur Mer, St Jean Cap Ferrat is nestled in an exceptional site in the middle of greenery. Perched on a peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, St jean Cap Ferrat is an ancient seaside village. Since the 1950s, the peninsula has become a fashionable seaside resort popular with celebrities and politicians from all over the world. I have always loved St Jean Cap Ferrat since I was young. Rocky landscape, sun drenched beaches, spectacular hidden estates, here away from the bling bling Monaco, luxury is not offensive because it is a lifestyle. You will enjoy plenty of magnificent days listening to the sound of the sea and birds in an elegant and protected place that gives you such peace.
Where to stay?
For a glamorous and iconic stay, opt for Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel. “Palaces were created to make people dream” wrote French writer Bernard Voyenne about The Grand Hotel. All the way at the end of the cape, the palace is located in the middle of 17 acres of lushly landscaped gardens overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The palace has been the epitome of the Riviera style for more than a century. The Grand hotel was opened in 1908. Today, the 5 star Palace offers 74 rooms including 24 suites, a 750 m2 spa, three restaurants: Le Cap the gastronomic Michelin-starred, La Veranda a stylish French Riviera bistro – where incredible breakfasts are served and the legendary Club Dauphin restaurant. In 2009, the palace has celebrated its 100th anniversary and completed a major renovation and extension program by architect Luc Svetchine and interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon. A pure gem that transports you into the vibe of French Riviera s of the 1940s and 1950s.
You will be welcomed under the magnificent rotunda imagined and built by Gustave Eiffel in 1909. The immaculate decor of the hotel is beautiful. Beige and white marbles, exquisite linens, pastel silks, beautiful colors, flower ornaments emphasize the abundance of sunlight and spectacular views of the sea and gardens from all the corners of the hotel.
What to do?
The palace is a perfectly positioned home base for exploring the French Riviera, but it is also an ideal spot for farniente.
Relax at the hotel. Don’t hesitate to try the spa. Incredibly spacious, the spa features very great amenities with mesmerizing Mediterranean views from Nice to Monaco. I would suggest a 90 minute Sodashi Aromatherapy massage. Oh my God! The massage therapist use oils which remind of The Mediterranean: rose, lavender, jasmine and olive. Also, I would recommend to try the sensorial shower. A perfect way to feel completely relaxed. Between the treatments, take a breath of fresh air in the 1200 square meter spa gardens with sea view sun terraces.
Dip in to the infinite pool at the legendary Club Dauphin. Take the private glass funicular down the hillside to get to the club. The Olympic heated seawater swimming pool has an incredible view. Located at the very end of the peninsula, the Club Dauphin was built in 1939 and it was a fairly new facility for that period. Today the pool is still unique. The pool was designed to give the feeling that the sea in only an extension of it. It is truly breathtaking and I think it is one of the most spectacular view of the French Riviera.
Go for a walk by the sea in the morning via the path which hugs the coastline. Go down to the club Dauphin and use the private door to go out of the hotel, and reach either the village and the port (30 minute walk)on the left or the lighthouse (20 minute walk) on the right. You will admire fabulous views across to Nice headland and l’Estérel.
Visit Villa Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is well known above all for its beautiful villas and one of my favorite is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Located a few minutes from the hotel, you can either walk (20minutes) - you will admire all the private estates on the way- or take the shuttle of the hotel. At the top of the Cap Ferrat, the villa built during the Belle Epoque by Béatrice Ephrussi de Rotchild is amazingly beautiful. A sumptuous mansion with its pink facade, its interior rich of art, an extraordinary garden and bay views are a must see. Take a stroll through the nine gardens decorated with columns, waterfalls, ornamental ponds, rare species of trees. It is a journey in itself: Spanish, Florentine, Stone, Japanese, Exotic, Rose, Provencal, French and Sèvres gardens. My favorite was the Japanese and Rose one. I would also recommend to have a lunch in the Tea Room. From the terrace, you will admire the bay of Villefranche on one side and bay of Beaulieu on the other.
Explore Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu Sur Mer. Built between 1902 and 1908 by the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli, Villa Kerylos was the brainchild of an early 20th century hellenist, Theodore Reinach. A man of letters with a passion for Ancient Greece, his idea was to pay tribute to the civilisation he loved so much. His villa is exceptional and recreate the Greek way of life with all the luxuries and comfort of a Belle Epoque holiday home. The villa is a copy of a noble house from the island of Delos in Greece. It is an architectural treasure and it is sublime.
