For elite buyers looking for primary or second homes in the South of France, the ultra-luxurious prospects can be overwhelming. They may wish to explore storied manors surrounded by fields of lavender, properties like Sean Connery’s former hillside villa, or opulent apartments with captivating ocean views. Clearly, you can’t go wrong when shopping with a budget upwards of, say, $20 million, but it’s all about knowing what you want.
If you desire an exquisite coastal estate where the grounds are as enamoring as the interiors, this newly-finished residence in Cap d’Antibes is a hidden, French Riviera gem. Domaine de la Belle Étoile, as it is known, is the result of a radiant transformation by London-based developer Caudwell with the expert eye of globally-acclaimed design firm, Casamanara.
Promising three fully-furnished villas, a sensual 75-foot pool, and expansive gardens, orchards, and groves, the 3.65-acre paradise is asking €58.95 million (roughly $68 million USD). And, a buyer will be the first to call it home.
Billionaire businessman John Caudwell acquired the property in 2014 at the same time he purchased the iconic Hôtel Provençal (now reborn as Le Provençal). It was a package deal. This used to be Hôtel Provençal’s tennis club and both parcels had to be sold together. While restoring and reintroducing Le Provençal to the world was the primary motivation for Caudwell, what he’s done with this unexpected addition is simply mesmerizing.
Buyers of the 41 residences at Le Provençal, which start at €4.5 million and reach €40 million in price, will not just be enjoying their own ultra-private homes, but lavish building amenities where they can mingle and socialize with neighbors when desired. Domaine de la Belle Étoile, however, provides a different lifestyle entirely. Set behind gates and filled with something for every sensory pleasure, it puts you in a world of your own.
Starting at the back of the property, impeccably planned gardens unfold to deliver the quintessential South of France fantasy. Pathways wind through rows of flowers and herbs, lemon and olive groves, and long grasses. As you stroll along, aromas of jasmine or lavender come and go, joining you briefly then floating away. Peeks of the water, Port de l’Olivette, are often in view whether you’re swimming in the glass-walled pool or reading in the rose garden.
The main house, known as ‘La Belle Étoile,’ was designed by Nice-based architecture practice Atelier Baraness + Cawker and constructed with local stone. It offers 14,200 square feet of vivid, engaging spaces, including six bedroom suites, a soundproof cinema, a spa, a family kitchen and a behind-the-scenes professional-grade kitchen, and so much more. One could easily host 200 guests at this villa, and it certainly deserves to be seen.
Interior architect and furniture designer Piero Manara and interior decorator Debla Manara-Berger are the sibling duo who founded Casamanara and curated the bold spaces of the villa with meticulous, custom elements.
Manara, who established the firm in New York in 1999 but relocated it to Monaco when his sister joined as a full partner in 2009, says, “Infusing a new property with soul does not come from using famous brands or following fashion, but creating a connection between tradition and modernity, with wonderful, tactile materials and a sense of surprise and magic at every turn.”
The home’s palette is a rich homage to the French Riviera: Think calming neutrals, creamy whites, and cool-toned hues ranging from gray to moss green and sky blue. Design lovers who experience the modern masterpiece will also lay eyes on indulgent details like Victoria Wilmotte’s 2017 ClassiCon Pli stainless-steel side table, sculptural chandeliers, glass touches by Lalique, handsewn leatherwork by yacht outfitter Foglizzo, and custom-designed rugs by HKP International.
The design encourages rejuvenation…and total surrender to a life of other-worldly, French Riviera luxury. Who wouldn’t love to sip drinks after a boat day with friends at the curving cocktail bar? It was hand-carved of bleached solid oak to resemble a tortoiseshell and is topped by blue and green Amazonite Quartzite for a mystical, oceanic feel. Or, picture the ritual of savoring chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres on your waterfront terrace each evening at sunset. Friends can arrived by helicopter and join in, landing on your lawn.
Steps from the main home with intricate landscaping as a buffer, you’ll find both of the guest villas. Villa Capella is a one-bedroom modern with Scandinavian-chic vibes and Villa Celeste is a two-bedroom circa-1920s abode, which was Hôtel Provençal’s longtime tennis club house.
As the only original structure at Domaine de la Belle Étoile, Villa Celeste boasts the most traditional, Mediterranean style of them all, with stones adorning the exterior and terracotta roof tiles above. Casamanara respected its roots, which include a history famous hotel visitors like Marilyn Monroe, by adding vintage flair to the interiors while keeping the atmosphere playful and fresh.
Forever tied to Le Provençal yet now rising with its own identity, Domaine de la Belle Étoile is poised to be a legendary private property in the South of France that is talked about and sought-after for decades to come. For the wealthy buyer who wants to own it first, contact Caudwell or Cote D’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty.
