On a sunny French Riviera morning, the gates of Domaine de la Belle Étoile swing open to reveal a private world of elegance, fragrance and fabulous coastal splendour. An idyllic sanctuary that features a modern super-villa, guest houses and acres of lovingly landscaped gardens, with the scent of rose, lavender and jasmine perfuming the air. At its centre, a 23-metre glass-edged swimming pool shimmers like an oasis. And the Mediterranean beckons from across the hedge, aquamarine water sparkling in a secluded bay.
Located between two of the world’s finest hotels, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Belles Rives, this magnificent, sprawling residential property is on the market for a cool €58.95 million ($69.25 million). It’s the latest Côte d’Azur project from British developer John Caudwell, who has recently revived Juan-les-Pins’ iconic Hôtel Provençal and transformed it into prime residential apartments, La Provençal.
In fact, this site was once Hôtel Provençal’s Tennis Club, a playground for high society between the 1930s and 1970s. Movie mogul Jack Warner owned Villa Aujourd’hui across the road, and the international set – including Charlie Chaplin, the Duke of Windsor, Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy – would play on one of the eight courts or socialise at the clubhouse. Today the courts are gone, but in a nod to its legendary history, the clubhouse remains, transformed into a breath-taking two-bedroomed cottage for guests (that many would clamour to call home)!
Even by Cap d’Antibes standards Domaine de la Belle Étoile is no ordinary luxury property. Covering 1,320 square metres of living space and 3.65 acres of gorgeous gardens, this exquisite property offers an irresistible blend of heritage and contemporary design, complete with bespoke interiors by Casamanara. In the words of Lars Christiaanse, Group Director of Sales at Caudwell, this is “the ultimate turn-key Riviera home on the Cap d’Antibes”. (Ample space has also been allowed for a helipad and a tennis or basketball court, subject to gaining the necessary consents.)
Caudwell – together with his prestigious architectural and design teams – has completely reimagined the property for modern life, creating an exceptional slice of paradise that fulfils nearly every desire a homeowner could imagine. And then some.
With its endlessly blue swimming pool, bespoke gym and cinema rooms, an assortment of designer kitchens and gardens, five reception rooms, and six beautiful bedrooms-en-suite (including unique his-and-hers), there’s little reason to ever leave. Add to this a wellness wing with hammam, sauna and cold room, a home office, a backgammon nook, and even a hair and nail salon – and you have the ultimate dream residence in the South of France.
A glamorous home with a legendary past
The domaine offers its future owners not just a glamorous home with a legendary past, but a lavish estate with guest homes for friends and family to frolic by the pool, dine under the stars or stroll around the rose garden, one of the prettiest on the Cap.
The main villa, La Belle Étoile, has been designed by Nice-based architectural practice Atelier Baraness + Cawker. Its interiors are by Monaco’s celebrated Casamanara design duo, Piero Manara and Debla Manara-Berger. Their serene palette of cream, sea blue and olive is inspired by the light and colours of the Côte d’Azur. The result is a home that feels both intimate and grand.
The residence enfolds you in a cocoon of calm, yet delights with some bold and playful design choices. In one bathroom you can view your favourite show on a large flatscreen TV whilst taking a shower. In all the bathrooms (of which there are many) exquisite marble, sourced from around the world, transforms showers into showrooms. (Our favourite is the rare rose onyx, evoking Hollywood glamour.)
Every element in the home – from Lalique glass details to Turnstyle ironmongery – feels thoughtfully curated, and even the most unassuming corridor walls rise to the level of exquisite artwork.
The principal suite offers a private terrace, twin dressing rooms clad in white leather panels by luxury yacht artisan Foglizzo, and two bathrooms finished in sumptuous Grigio Carnico marble and that rose onyx. Custom rugs and velvet wall coverings from Dedar wrap the space in understated elegance. And sweeping curtains frame glorious garden views.
The main kitchen, a masterpiece custom-made by talented local company, L’Atelier de Saint Paul, features polished ice jade green marble counters paired with top-tier Gaggenau and Novy appliances, blending practicality with haute design.
Nearby, a cocktail bar topped with Amazonite Quartzite offers a perfect gathering spot, accented by sculptural lighting (an artwork in itself) and tailor-made furnishings from Casamanara’s exclusive Edizioni collection.
This is a mega-villa that’s priceless, yet unpretentious. The sofas are welcoming, the hand-carved bleached oak bar inviting.
Between the main living room and the seafront terrace, walls of glass glide away to merge the inside with the outside. It’s an entertainment haven.
And yet, all the while there are spaces to escape to for solitude – from a meditation garden to the home office on the other side (with its own separate entrance for clients). There’s even a dedicated ‘play’ room beside the garage where proud sports-car owners can admire their collection through an inter-leading glass window.
Hosting Heaven
While Belle Étoile has sumptuous en-suite guest bedrooms within the prime residence, it also offers two main guesthouses: Villa Céleste and Villa Capella.
Villa Céleste is the stone guesthouse that has been lovingly restored from the original Provençal tennis clubhouse. Flanked by cypress trees at its entrance (a traditional French symbol of hospitality) with bougainvillea spilling over its archways, it offers vaulted ceilings, vintage-inspired wallpapers, playful bathroom tiles, and bespoke furniture, echoing the estate’s rich history.
A second guesthouse, Villa Capella, on the other side of the property, is modern with clean lines and a terrace that offers stupendous views over the Mediterranean.
And then there’s the garden. Or rather… gardens.
The Enchanting Gardens
The estate’s 3.65 acres (1.47 hectares) of landscaped grounds – designed by the renowned Côte d’Azur firm Région Espaces Verts – flow seamlessly from one theme to the next. Inspired by the landscapes of Provence and the French Riviera, they combine naturalistic planting with the formal geometry of a Jardin à la Française (including a classic central fountain between the main house and Villa Céleste).
As you wander through the gardens, agapanthus sway gently in the sea breeze. First you’ll stroll past the Chef’s Garden – a “Provençal pantry in full flower” – where the chef can forage daily for fresh ingredients – rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint and more. It’s bordered by lemon, mandarin and bitter orange trees. Région Espaces Verts reveals it has “carefully curated plants that thrive in the Mediterranean climate”.
The centrepiece is undoubtedly the Roserie, which Christiaanse notes is “one of the most ravishing rose gardens on the entire Riviera”.
And then there’s the olive grove, with lavender growing at the foot of the 20 silvery Olea europaea trees.
Wine lovers will find a three-tier vineyard flourishing with four grape varieties (two whites, and two reds, native to the South of France).
For quiet reflection, there’s that secluded meditation space, with privacy ensured by high hedges of Australian brush cherry, while a boules court awaits lazy summer afternoons.
Towering maritime pines, some stretching as far as 25 metres into the sky, punctuate the landscape, along with the century-old olive trees, cypress sentinels, and beds of sweetly-scented Tulbaghia violacea. It’s simply beautiful.
A New Chapter for a Storied Site
You can picture generations bonding here: conversations under the olive trees, children racing across the lawns, carefree swims in the pool, and evenings of aperitifs or dancing under the Mediterranean moonlight.
This is a place where elegance and cutting-edge design meets Riviera romance. A home that’s modern and wildly spacious – at once a stage for glamorous entertaining and a sanctuary for a private retreat.
For those seeking a residence that captures both the spirit of the French Riviera and the ease of contemporary living, Domaine de la Belle Étoile is truly without equal.
Domaine de la Belle Étoile is available for viewings by prior appointment. For sales enquiries, contact Caudwell on Tel: +33 (0)4 93 65 53 36, visit www.domaine-de-la-belle-etoile.com or Email: lars.christiaanse@caudwell.com
