Villa of the Côte d’Azur – Fleur du Cap in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

What is the prestigious history of this villa?

La Fleur du Cap is one of the iconic villas of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Originally named Villa Socoglio by its owner after its construction in 1880, it has hosted many illustrious occupants. First, the Duchess of Marlborough, Winston Churchill’s cousin by marriage, who himself later became a regular at the Hôtel Royal Riviera. Then, King Leopold III of Belgium, successor and nephew of Leopold II, who also owned many residences in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Charlie Chaplin also stayed there for a week, as well as at the nearby Royal Riviera. Later, it was occupied by David Niven, the famous actor from The Pink Panther, which earned it the nickname “Villa David Niven” among many residents of Nice. The American actress Grace Kelly, a friend of David Niven, is said to have dined there many times with her husband, the Prince of Monaco.

A modern fairytale

But few people know the fairy-tale story of her current owner Ana Tzarev. It all starts in a small town in the former dictatorship of Marshal Tito. A young Yugoslav get married with, Robert Chandler, an inspired businessman from new Zealand. The entrepreneurial couple managed to develop a chain of 10 retail stores. The story goes that at that time Madame Tzarev kept a picture of David Niven’s Villa in the family bathroom. She was commenting on this picture to her children telling them it was the house of her dreams. After reselling their store chain, the couple moved to Monaco. Of his 3 children, 2 will become very wealthy financiers. They decided to offer their mother the villa she had always dreamed of.

To learn more about Ana Tzarev’s artistic work, here’s an AFP repport on Youtube 🎥 shot in her villa La Fleur du Cap in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. You can also discover the work of the artist on her Art Gallery in Monaco.

How to estimate the price of David Niven’s villa?

According to the inhabitants, when Hjördis Genberg, David Niven’s widow, put the Villa up for sale, its price was estimated at around £10 million, we were in the 1990s. According to the government open source site Etalab, a villa of similar size, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, directly overlooking the sea, sold 27 million euros in 2015. La Fleur de Cap certainly benefits from a significant added value compared to this average price, given its prestigious history and its private port.

We leave it up to you to estimate the actual current price… Your estimate will remain very affordable, compared to the villa of Paul Allen located a few meters away! But that’s another story!

Why the Fleur du Cap is one of the emblematic villa of the Côte d’Azur?

You just need to sail past the villa to realize just how beautiful it is—one of the most stunning on the French Riviera. This villa also stands out for its exceptional location: the Chemin des Douaniers, an institutional trail established by Colbert, Controller-General of Finances under King Louis XIV, which has to runs along the French coastline, passes right behind the property. This rarity makes it one of the few villas in the region to offer a garden overlooking the sea in complete privacy. Shielded from view by this natural barrier, it combines absolute privacy with a breathtaking view of the sea—a rare and highly sought-after privilege. Situated at the tip of a small headland, it also features a private marina. Its grounds feature a pergola and are shielded from view by a hedge, without the need for an imposing perimeter wall bristling with security cameras. At the far end of the garden lies the formidable “Rompe Talon” headland. This headland is renowned during storms because the area’s rare waves break there. It’s a spot that surfers—both men and women—particularly appreciate.

David Niven’s mooring, © seaZen 2026

As ambassador of the Côte d’Azur France brand, seaZen favours a courteous and responsible approach to tourism. For villa lovers, here are the most sumptuous 👉 palaces on the French Riviera.