This beautiful Villa and its gardens are found on the top of Cap Ferrat just a short distance east of Villefranche. I decided to take a bit of a break from studying all week-end so on Saturday I planned a visit to the Villa and then a walk around Cap Ferrat. Unfortunately the weather took a turn, so for the next few days it is cool, windy, overcast and wet. That put an end to my walk, but I figured I would take in the Villa regardless.
It is very easy to spend half a day or more exploring this Tuscan-style mansion and its 9 magnificent gardens. Fortunately, audioguides were included in the tour which made it even more interesting. The Villa was built between 1905 and 1912 during La Belle Époque by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a French socialite and member of the wealthy Rothschild family. She married a banker Baron Maurice de Ephrussie who turned out to be a "schmuck" and they were separated after 21 years of marriage. Her father died a year after the separation leaving her a small fortune. She used the money to build the villa and its gardens and to amass a rare and extensive collection of porcelaine, furniture, paintings, tapestries, sculptures and other objets d'art. From what I gathered listening to the tapes, she was a pretty eccentric woman. The tapes described her affinity for gambling, driving and other such things contrary to most women of the day. She was also a "bit of a nut" for animals, so much so, that she held a wedding ceremony for her two pet lap dogs. People and their four legged canines were invited to attend the event. The dogs in the wedding party were dressed in clothes, jewelled collars and top hats. Apparently it was quite an outrageous and "over the top" affair. Besides her dogs, she also had a couple of monkeys, a mongoose and a parakeet as pets. Her favourite animal of all was the pink flamingo, hence the exterior colour of the Villa, many of the flowers in the garden and much of her wardrobe.
Here are a few pictures of her furniture, clothes, porcelain figurines and paintings that can be found in Villa.
This painting below is titled "S'il m'était aussi fidèle" (17th century) by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, one of her favourite painters.
After I had spent a couple of hours touring the Villa, it was time for lunch. There is a beautiful Tea Room where you can stop for "smoko" or a meal.
I chose to have Le Plat de Jour and a glass of guess what? - Rothschild red.
In my opinion, this is the best view of the French garden in front of the Villa. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate today. I expect the views and the gardens would have been more spectacular in the sun. Later in the season, the rose garden would be in full bloom too. Nevertheless, it was still worth meandering through the nine gardens, all with a different theme. They are decorated with sculptures, columns, ponds, waterfalls, flowerbeds and exotic trees and shrubs.
This poor bride and her groom (holding the veil) spent the better part of two hours in and out of the Villa with a professional photographer. She was cold and wet in a strapless gown, while most of us were bundled up in three layers.
Every twenty minutes, the fountains erupt into action to dance to a piece of classical music. I listened to the Hallelujah Chorus while watching the fountains move in time to the music.
Had the sun been shining, the views toward Villefranche and Beaulieu would have been amazing. It was just too cloudy today to get a good photo.
This was the entrance to the Villa.
and this is the exterior of the tea room where I had lunch.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of this unusual palm on the way out of the Villa. It is called a Cycus du Japon. My friend Morgan might be interested in the species.
Upon Béatricés death in1934, the Villa, its contents and the gardens were donated to the Académie des Beaux Arts. It is open to the public 365 days a year. Well worth a visit in my estimation!
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