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The most beautiful French Riviera’s villas

Much of the Côte d’Azur’s splendor is due to its magnificent villas. SeaZen has selected its three preferred villas of the French Riviera, visible from the sea, along with the most recent stories about the celebrities who have lived there.

 

Coastal houses by calm sea with mountains in background.

1. Kerylos villa
📍 Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Located on the rocky point of the plage des fourmis, Villa Kerylos overlooks the bay. This white building stands out by displaying a very original architectural style. The building is an invitation to travel as it reuses the architectural codes of ancient Greece.

It is not surprising that this villa served as a residence to honour the visit of Chinese presidents in March 2019 and Indian presidents in June 2026.

This photo of Villa Kerylos was taken the day before Presidents Macron and Xi Jinping’s visit, on March 24, 2019, © seaZen 2019.

Stuning view

This form borrowed from the noble houses of ancient Greece is the will of its sponsor, Theodore Reinach.

Villa Kerylos, video credit Monaco Info

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2. Chateau La Croë, property of Roman Abramovich
📍 Antibes

Let’s start by discovering the Château de la Croë in Antibes.

Where are the most beautiful villas in Antibes?

The town of Antibes, especially its cape, is a pleasant place to visit. The cap of Antibes is home to several majestic villas hidden in a forest of umbrella pines and some of them can be seen from the sea. The splendour of the villas can be seen simply by walking along the Cap d’Antibes. The length of the fencing walls bristling with surveillance cameras mean a lot about the villas. The promenade is still sublime with the Baie des Anges and the Alps in the background.

What’s the history of this castle?

Have you ever seen the movie “Gatsby the Magnificent”? This work perfectly reflects the spirit of the wealthy bourgeoisie during the Roaring Twenties. The story takes place in a very upscale residential area where important personalities meet to party in a beautiful home. Surprisingly, the history of La Croë Castle is very similar. In 1938, the Roaring Twenties did not seem to be over for the Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson. Extraordinary receptions are held in this castle. For many years, the Duke’s Villa is known as the most select place in the region. For many years, the duke’s villa is known to be the most select place in the region. Became King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India, Edward VIII must abdicate in front of the outcry aroused by his proposed marriage with Wallis. This love story inspired many filmmakers, including W.E. Wallis & Edouard, co-written and directed by Madonna.

Who owns it?

Built in 1927 in a Victorian style, for the English aristocrat Sir William Pomeroy Burton, this building looks exactly like the White House.
Left to be abandoned for thirty years, nothing remained of the castle but a burnt ruin and a wasteland. Under the impulse of a famous Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, in love with the French Riviera, the castle was completely renovated from 2008 to 2010. The cost of the work would have exceeded 100 million Euros.
A swimming pool could be installed on the roof. This is a technical feat. As the building is listed, the architecture of the building had to be preserved. More recently, a new ecological swimming pool was installed as an extension to a waterfall. This ecological pool is easily recognisable by the colour of the water, as it is not the usual artificial blue of the pools on the Côte d’Azur. This detail is important to us because we are sensitive to ecotourism.
Sanctioned by the war in Ukraine, Roman Abramovich is no longer allowed to enjoy his villa until further notice.

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3. VillaEphrussi of Rothschild
📍 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

SeaZen loves to cruise along the French Riviera in a solar boat and we love to share our passions. The guided tour that we propose now takes you a little further to another famous house on the French Riviera, Villa Ephrussi of Rothschild.

Glimpse of the Rothschild’s Ephrussi Villa at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Why did it all start on the French Riviera?

The Côte d’Azur has many treasures. Pleasant climate by the sea and unique panorama in the world are very appreciated qualities. An idyllic living environment in which many influential and rich people want to settle. This was the wish of Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild. Let’s imagine the context of the times. In 1860, the County of Nice was a steep region, poorly served by transport. The arrival of the railway changed everything. Great fortunes and crowned heads from all over the world can easily spend their winters there. At that time there were no private planes but private trains. The Rothschild family owned the Chemin de Fer du Nord. The neighbouring King of the Belgians used to park his private train on a specially prepared track in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

The richest heiress in France

Beatrice inherited the vast fortune of the Rothschild family in 1905, following the death of her father. His father was said to be the wealthiest man in France. It is also that year that she discovers one of the jewels of the Côte d’Azur, the peninsula of Cap Ferrat. The baroness falls in love with this place and decides to buy a piece of land to build the villa and the garden of her dreams.

The history of the pink villa

Many projects of renowned architects and landscape designers have been rejected before one of them is finally validated, and gives the form that can still be admired today. Although the war caused a lot of damage, the building is still standing after more than a century. The house of the baroness has been restored respecting the original project, to a detail. During the renovation, the color of the originally ocher-yellow facade changed to red-pink, characteristic of Venetian villas. A marvel that you should not miss while sailing aboard your solar rented boat.

Celebrities and great fortunes continue to finance the villa

This villa is a museum without being classified National Museum. This allows it to propose to private individuals or companies to privatize it. This is how the James Bond, Never Say Never Again, with Sean Connery was shot in this villa. More discreetly, many wealthy families rent it for weddings.

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How to discover these villas peacefully from the sea?

If your budget does not allow you to rent one of these villas, you can probably book a solar boat. These jewels are often hidden from view along the road by imposing surrounding walls, while their remarkable architecture, nestled in the heart of lush gardens, opens clearly onto the sea.
As a brand ambassador for Côte d’Azur France, seaZen prioritizes a responsible approach. Private cruises are organized aboard quiet, solar-powered boats. Since the tours are private, you’ll be alone with our captains, who are happy to share these fabulous stories with you.