Property Of The Week: 76.5m Jackie Kennedy Estate On French Riviera For Sale

Luxury developer Caudwell has unveiled Domaine de la Belle Étoile, an unparalleled opportunity to purchase the largest and only newly built residential estate on the exclusive Cap d’Antibes; the reimagining of the historic Hôtel Provençal tennis club into a striking modern villa with leisure amenities including a glass-walled 23m (75ft) swimming pool, up to three guest houses, set in 3.65-acres of landscaped gardens overlooking the Port de l’Olivette.

Between the 1930s and 1970s Domaine de la Belle Étoile served as the tennis club for the nearby Hôtel Provençal, the famous Art Deco hotel which hosted royalty and A-list visitors. As part of the resort the site formerly provided eight tennis courts and a clubhouse (now a guest villa), where hotel visitors and tennis fans such as Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel (designer of the very first tennis dresses in 1913), the Duke of Windsor, Jackie Kennedy, Charlie Chapin and Douglas Fairbanks could enjoy cocktails on the patio after a match.

Following a three year conversion project Caudwell has created Domaine de la Belle Étoile, set behind a gated entrance and driveway, providing in excess of 16,040 square feet of luxurious living accommodation over the main villa and guest cottages, offering privacy and sweeping views of the bay.

The contemporary main villa ‘La Belle Étoile’, designed by Nice-based architectural practice Atelier Baraness + Cawker with interiors by Monaco-based design studio Casamanara, spans 14,200 square feet over ground and garden floors and is built in local French stone.

The two-storey villa has a glass and colonnaded façade with the living spaces opening onto covered loggias and outside terraces. The luxurious accommodation includes air conditioning and Crestron automation throughout, five reception rooms, six bedroom suites, two kitchens, study, media room, spa, gym, games room, show garage, back of house and staff accommodation.

On the upper floor of the villa is the entrance foyer which has a cantilevered staircase to the garden floor below, with the dramatic space bordered by double-height windows on both sides offering views onto a courtyard garden and on the other aspect views over the lawns towards the pool.

The foyer leads into the main living room with cocktail bar which can entertain up to 200 guests. This dual aspect living space has full height windows on both sides opening onto terraces. A 20-metre expanse of glass can retract opening onto the sea view terrace which has an outdoor kitchen and views across the cape towards Cannes. Adjoining the living room is a show kitchen and ten-seat dining table.

On the garden floor below are the leisure and wellbeing amenities, three further ensuite bedrooms, and staff facilities and accommodation. The amenities include a spacious family entertainment lounge with a marble bar for cocktails, coffee and other beverages and four sets of double doors opening onto the garden. There is also a media/games room, a health and wellbeing spa with a mirrored studio for Pilates or barre workouts, treatment room, beauty salon, steam room, sauna, ice room, chromotherapy sensory shower and gym.

Caudwell has undertaken a meticulous restoration of the original tennis clubhouse, now a charming 1,292 square feet two-bedroom guesthouse known as Villa Céleste, with three terraces offering outdoor living space. Villa Céleste has 14.7 foot high vaulted ceilings with the original restored beams, an open plan living and dining area and kitchen, and two guest suites. It is here that celebrities and royalty staying at Hôtel Provençal would have gathered post tennis to enjoy cocktails.

To the north-east corner of the estate is a former fishing cottage, originally built in the 1940s, now transformed by Caudwell into Villa Capella, a contemporary one-bedroom villa. Villa Capella has a kitchenette hidden behind mirrored cabinetry, a chic bedroom and bathroom, with an upstairs living room opening onto a roof terrace with spectacular sea views and mesmerising views over the estate.

The third guesthouse, Villa Marguerite, is under construction and is available by separate negotiation. Set in its own private gardens Villa Marguerite has an entrance hall, reception room, family kitchen and five bedrooms. In the gardens is a separate studio, which could be used as a fitness suite or home office, and an outside swimming pool.

The main villa and guest houses are set in beautiful extensive gardens which are zoned to include a rose garden, an olive grove with lavender planting, a hidden meditation area, vineyard, a chef’s garden (citrus, herbs, organic produce), boules court, space for a tennis or basketball court, and helipad (the latter two subject to planning).

The estate has a garage and staff annex (ideal for an estate manager), providing bays for two cars, a living room, bedroom and bathroom. The estate has parking for 16 vehicles: three in the show garage (one fast charging station), staff annexe with two further spaces, and 11 outdoor spaces.

Domaine de la Belle Étoile is located in a prime position on the Cap d’Antibes, just a short drive from Port Vauban, Europe’s largest yacht marina. It neighbours the sought-after Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, regularly voted one of the best in the world, and modernist Villa Aujourd’hui once owned by American Jack L. Warner of Warner Brothers and visited by Charlie Chaplin and Ava Gardner.

John Caudwell, British businessman, philanthropist and Founder of Caudwell says: “La Belle Étoile is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for buyers in the Côte d’Azur and exceeds all expectations. The historical charm of the site as the former tennis club of the famous Hôtel Provençal, frequented by the rich and famous, has been preserved and reimagined for a new generation into a luxurious residential estate. We are proud to be setting a new benchmark for quality and design for the area.”

Domaine de la Belle Étoile is now available for viewings with price on application. While the list price for the estate is only available upon application, it is expected to be in excess of €70 million ($76.5 million US dollars). For sales enquiries, please contact Caudwell and visit www.domaine-de-la-belle-etoile.com.

Photos: CAUDWELL