A historic estate address tucked a short walk away from the French Riviera medieval village of Valbonne, known for its charming pastel coloured buildings, cobble streets and central square filled with an array of café tables, is now up for sale and it has some famous former residents.
English pop rock band Duran Duran reportedly used Domaine de La Sylviane as a base during the 1980s while recording their third studio album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger.
Surrounded by 10 hectares of land which has over 500 olive trees that produce nearly 1,000 litres of oil each year, the property comprises a total of 23 rooms, including 16 bedrooms, a gym room, pool house, tennis court bordered by fruit trees and a garage that can comfortably house six cars.
Named La Sylviane after the daughter of a general in Napoleon’s army, it was also previously the residence of members of Prince Rainier III of Monaco’s family before being sold to its current owners.
Steeped in Provençal history, the main residence with six bedrooms was first built in 1697. The adjoining three-storey cottage features an independent two-bedroom apartment, while another two villas occupy the courtyard – both comprising two bedrooms.
Domaine de La Sylviane also has its very own resident caretaker to maintain the estate’s upkeep, with the caretaker’s apartment also at the entrance to the property.
Beyond its vast size, celebrity and royal connections, Domaine de La Sylviane offers a glimpse of the French Riviera beyond the usual hotspots.
Centuries of history on the Côte d’Azur in one estate
According to Carlton International, who specialise in luxury real estate and are tasked with selling the estate, the property was settled in the 13th century and initially was an agricultural hub worked on by monks.
Philip Weiser, founder and CEO of Carlton International, said the significance of the property and its location lie in the history.
“Long before Cannes welcomed the world’s cinema stars, before Cap d’Antibes became synonymous with grand estates and elegant hotels, the Riviera was a land of fishermen, monks, olive growers and hilltop villages whose rhythms followed the seasons rather than the summer holiday calendar,” Weiser told Euronews Travel.
He added that estates like La Sylviane still define the character of Provence today, with the inland Riviera remaining one of the region’s best kept secrets.
In place of the sounds of the sea, inland destinations like Valbonne are instead marked by church bells ringing, stone farmhouses rather than waterfront villas and country lanes that lead through ancient olive groves that remain virtually unchanged over hundreds of years.
While the French Riviera has become synonymous to luxurious images of glamorous yachts docked at bays overlooking the Mediterranean, golden beaches and star-studded film festivals, in a destination such as Valbonne, “luxury is measured not by visibility but by authenticity: the freedom to walk to the village bakery each morning,” he said.
The Riviera beyond the coast
Valbonne may sit inland from the Mediterranean and offer a quieter stay, but for Weiser, that position is part of its appeal.
The countryside estate is 20 minutes away from Nice International Airport and around 15 minutes from Cannes.
“The hidden Côte d’Azur does not compete with Cannes, Nice or Saint-Tropez,” he said. “It complements them, offering an altogether different experience – one that reveals the enduring soul of Provence behind the glamour of the coast.”
Its restored village centre spotlights historical monuments, including Place des Arcades square where a Friday morning market is held – Weiser said the village square especially comes alive on market days.
He added that Valbonne is also a stone’s throw away from the hilltop village of Mougins – crowned as celebrated as the gastronomic capital of the French Riviera for its refined restaurants, including those that have earned Michelin stars.
The annual Étoiles de Mougins festival, launched in 2006 by Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre, Alain Ducasse, Michel Guérard and Pierre Troisgros, gathers esteemed chefs and culinary enthusiasts for demonstrations and workshops, competitions and conferences celebrating food.
Other surrounding villages the Weiser recommended include Biot, which is renowned for its expert glassmakers, as well as Grasses, which he described as the “world capital for perfume” as it continues to cultivate the same flowers that have shaped famed perfume houses for centuries.
“Within twenty minutes, residents and visitors can enjoy the beaches of Cannes, Antibes or Juan-les-Pins, dine in Michelin-starred restaurants, play some of Europe’s finest golf courses, or fly directly from Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport to destinations around the world,” Weiser said.
Despite all that the rest of the French Riviera has to offer visitors, he added: “Yet at the end of the day, they return to the tranquillity of olive groves, forests and centuries-old stone houses.”
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