Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

90  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa and Gardens
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864–1934) could
have led a life of indolent luxury, but her passions for
travel and fine art, combined with an iron will, led to
the creation of the most perfect “dream villa” of the
Riviera, Villa Ile-de-France. Despite interest shown
by King Léopold II of Belgium for the land, she
succeeded in purchasing it and later supervised
every aspect of the villa’s creation. It was completed
in 1912 and, although she never used it as a primary
residence, Béatrice hosted garden parties and soirées . Fragonard Room
The fine collection of working drawings
here until 1934. The villa remains a monument to by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806)
a woman of spirit and vision. includes this sketch, wryly named If he
were as faithful to me.
Béatrice, Aged 19
Her meek appearance
belies a woman who,
a contemporary once
observed, “commands
flowers to grow during
the Mistral”.

Béatrice’s Boudoir
Béatrice’s writing desk is a
beautiful piece of 18th-century
furniture by cabinetmaker
Jean-Henri Riesener (1734–1806).

KEY
1 The State Room looks out on to
the French garden, combining the
pleasures of a sea breeze with the
comfort of elegant surroundings. Villa Ile-de-France
2 First-floor apartments Béatrice christened her villa following a pattern established by
another villa she owned named “Rose de France”. Its stucco walls
are coloured in a lovely shade of rose pink.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp198–9 and pp208–11