Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Encyclopedia
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Italian
: San Giovanni Capo Ferrato, is a commune
of the Alpes-Maritimes
department in southeastern France
.
It is located on a peninsula next to Beaulieu-sur-Mer
and to Villefranche-sur-Mer
and extends out to Cap Ferrat
. Its tranquillity and warm climate make it a favourite holiday destination amongst European aristocracy
and international millionaires.
as Anao, the site of present days Cap Ferrat was first settled by Celto-ligurian tribes, then by the Lombards
at the end of the 6th century. Sant Ospizio (or Saint Hospice), a hermit friar, is said to have inhabited a tower on the Eastern part of the peninsula.
By 1388, the territory of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat with the entire County of Nice is given by treaty to the Dukes of Savoy (see also History of Villefranche-sur-Mer
).
The history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat tells that Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
builds a fort at Saint-Hospice in 1561 in an effort to secure the coastline from invaders. The fort is destroyed in 1706 by the Duke of Berwick
when Nice is occupied by the French armies of King Louis XIV.
- was occupied off and on by the French. It is returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia
in 1814 after Napoleon's abdication.
In 1860, the County of Nice is finally ceded by treaty to France and the peninsula becomes a magnet for kings and wealthy visitors; a new era in the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. The small fishing village of Saint Jean develops and by 1904 is established as a self-standing commune with the rest of the peninsula, separated from nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer
.
owned an estate on Cap Ferrat and built several houses and an artificial lake. The main residence is the Villa des Cèdres, which has been owned by Marnier-Lapostolle (the makers of Grand Marnier) since 1924 and is now in part a botanical garden called the Jardin botanique "Les Cèdres"
.
In 1905, Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
chose Cap Ferrat to build a Tuscan style palazzo, now known as Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
museum; part of the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.
Today Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat has probably some of the most expensive real estate in the world and continues to attract the rich and famous. It is truly one of the crown jewels
of the French Riviera
. The luxurious properties are nestled amongst lush vegetation. Discreetly built and protected from prying eyes, they often include a private beach and locked gate-ways.
In the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, some of the estates on Cap Ferrat have hosted a plethora of celebrities among others: King Leopold II of Belgium
, Baroness de Rothschild
, Charlie Chaplin
, Rainier III, David Niven
, Somerset Maugham, Jean Cocteau
, Lady Kenmare and Roderick Cameron, Elizabeth Taylor
and Richard Burton
, Pierre and Sao Schlumberger, Hubert de Givenchy
, Rachel Lambert Mellon
, Mary Wells Lawrence
, Isadora Duncan
, Winston Churchill
, French Prime Ministers Maurice Rouvier
and Raymond Barre
and many more. Major Berkeley Levett
, an English aristocrat and witness in the infamous Royal Baccarat Scandal
, lived in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat with his brewery heiress wife, the former Sibell Bass
.
This wonderful place is the apex of the French Riviera's
"golden triangle", of Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu
and Villefranche
.
One of the pearls of the French Riviera
, such is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This elegant seaside resort, equipped with a marina, is renowned in the whole world for its wonderful peninsula which can be discovered thanks to many pedestrian paths.
Two of the major pursuits in Cap-Ferrat are strolling along the peninsula on the beautiful rocky path admiring the views and the villas, and having a relaxing meal in the restaurants lining the port or just above in the town. If you like mingling with the rich and famous, Cap-Ferrat is one of the best places in the world to do so.
Paloma beach
southeast of the port, on the north side small peninsula (St Hospice). Being on a northeast-facing shore and at the base of some tall cliffs, this beach is the most protected from winds, and has less sun in the afternoons. The location is about a 5–10 minutes walk from the port. From the Port, walk south and up the road past La Voile d'Or; straight, past the hotel Brise Marine, to the junction of Ave Claude Vignon; left, towards "Chapelle St. Hospice", for about 300 m.
Passable beach
is on the northwest side of the main peninsula, past the Office de Tourisme and past the zoo (parc zoologique). It's west-facing, with a view across the Rade de Villefranche.
Cro de Peï Pin
is the biggest beach, located just north of the port at the Anse Lilong (the bay between the main peninsula and the smaller Ste Hospice peninsula), facing eastward into the Baie des Fourmis and the Tete de Chene. There's a public parking lot alongside the beach.
The Zoo du Cap-Ferrat has an impressive collection of flora and fauna. There are over 300 varieties of plants growing here, including succulents and cacti. There are also eucalyptus trees that are over 100 years old. A variety of animals also reside here.
Although a very beautiful zoo it has recently as off 2011 been closed down.
, George W. Bush
and Bill Clinton
, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
, Queen Victoria's
daughter, who remained a faithful guest for many seasons and was often visited by her brother the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
who lived for twenty years on Cap Ferrat.
During the "Belle Époque
" the Cap-Ferrat was already the vacation resort of the world elite: the great names of this world came there, in winter period, to profit from its climate and the quality of life. Built by Baronness de Rothschild
at the "Villa" is one of most beautiful of the Riviera. With its prestigious gardens whose exceptional rosery, it dominates the Mediterranean on all sides: on a side roads of Villefranche
and other the bay of Beaulieu
.
(or Musée Île-de-France) is an Italian style villa was built between 1905 and 1912 of the Baronness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
. It contains a large art collection and fine furnishing. The villa grounds have an extensive set of 7 gardens designed in different styles: French Traditional, Florentine, Spanish, Exotic, Lapidary, Japanese, Provençal. The villa is located at the northern end (entrance) of the peninsula.
, founded in 1997, takes place each year in August in Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
.
. The main attractions of Saint-jean-Cap-Ferrat is its pleasant climate its history and its circuit of yachts attracts thousands of tourists every year. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat also has a small port of fish.
Another Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat's source of income is the hotel industry and the real estate
sector which is dynamic in the region.
and Beaulieu-sur-Mer
, both a pretty long walk from St Jean-Cap-Ferrat. From Nice's central bus station, you can catch a bus to St Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This bus is more convenient than the train.
Air: The nearest airports are Toulon-Hyères, Nice-Côte d'Azur
, Marseille-Provence
. The Nice Côte d'Azur airport
, has regular flights to Geneva
, Paris
, Madrid
, New York City
and London
.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: San Giovanni Capo Ferrato, is a commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of the Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
department in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is located on a peninsula next to Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
and to Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
and extends out to Cap Ferrat
Cap Ferrat
Cap Ferrat is situated in Alpes-Maritimes département, in southeastern France. It is located in the commune of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.Saint Hospitius lived here as a recluse during the sixth century...
. Its tranquillity and warm climate make it a favourite holiday destination amongst European aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and international millionaires.
History
The history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat shows that the town was known to the ancient GreeksGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
as Anao, the site of present days Cap Ferrat was first settled by Celto-ligurian tribes, then by the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
at the end of the 6th century. Sant Ospizio (or Saint Hospice), a hermit friar, is said to have inhabited a tower on the Eastern part of the peninsula.
Middle Ages
In the 8th century, the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat changed when the Saracens occupy the site and use it as a base for pirating until the 11th century.By 1388, the territory of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat with the entire County of Nice is given by treaty to the Dukes of Savoy (see also History of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
).
The history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat tells that Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy
Emmanuel Philibert was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580....
builds a fort at Saint-Hospice in 1561 in an effort to secure the coastline from invaders. The fort is destroyed in 1706 by the Duke of Berwick
James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick
James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, 1st Duke of Fitz-James, 1st Duke of Liria and Jérica was an Anglo-French military leader, illegitimate son of King James II of England by Arabella Churchill, sister of the 1st Duke of Marlborough...
when Nice is occupied by the French armies of King Louis XIV.
Renaissance
During the 18th century, the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat changed when the area - officially part of the Kingdom of SardiniaKingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
- was occupied off and on by the French. It is returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
in 1814 after Napoleon's abdication.
In 1860, the County of Nice is finally ceded by treaty to France and the peninsula becomes a magnet for kings and wealthy visitors; a new era in the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. The small fishing village of Saint Jean develops and by 1904 is established as a self-standing commune with the rest of the peninsula, separated from nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
.
Arrival of the rich and famous
At the beginning of the 20th century, King Léopold II of BelgiumLeopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
owned an estate on Cap Ferrat and built several houses and an artificial lake. The main residence is the Villa des Cèdres, which has been owned by Marnier-Lapostolle (the makers of Grand Marnier) since 1924 and is now in part a botanical garden called the Jardin botanique "Les Cèdres"
Jardin botanique "Les Cèdres"
The Jardin botanique "Les Cèdres" , often called simply Les Cèdres or the Jardin de la villa "Les Cèdres", is a private botanical garden located at 57 Avenue Denis Semeria, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.The garden was established in 1924 on the grounds...
.
In 1905, Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Charlotte Béatrice de Rothschild was a French socialite, art collector, and a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of France.- Biography :...
chose Cap Ferrat to build a Tuscan style palazzo, now known as Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside palazzo constructed between 1905 and 1912 at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild in the Goût Rothschild. It was designed by the Belgian architect Aaron Messiah...
museum; part of the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.
Today Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat has probably some of the most expensive real estate in the world and continues to attract the rich and famous. It is truly one of the crown jewels
Crown jewels
Crown jewels are jewels or artifacts of the reigning royal family of their respective country. They belong to monarchs and are passed to the next sovereign to symbolize the right to rule. They may include crowns, sceptres, orbs, swords, rings, and other objects...
of the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
. The luxurious properties are nestled amongst lush vegetation. Discreetly built and protected from prying eyes, they often include a private beach and locked gate-ways.
In the history of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, some of the estates on Cap Ferrat have hosted a plethora of celebrities among others: King Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
, Baroness de Rothschild
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Charlotte Béatrice de Rothschild was a French socialite, art collector, and a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of France.- Biography :...
, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Rainier III, David Niven
David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...
, Somerset Maugham, Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
, Lady Kenmare and Roderick Cameron, Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
and Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
, Pierre and Sao Schlumberger, Hubert de Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy
Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy is a French aristocrat and fashion designer who founded The House of Givenchy in 1952. He is famous for having designed much of the personal and professional wardrobe of Audrey Hepburn, as well as clothing for clients such as Jacqueline Kennedy...
, Rachel Lambert Mellon
Rachel Lambert Mellon
Rachel "Bunny" Lowe Lambert Lloyd Mellon is an American horticulturalist, gardener, philanthropist, fine arts collector, member of the International Best Dressed List, and widow of philanthropist, art collector, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and banking heir Paul Mellon.-Background:Known...
, Mary Wells Lawrence
Mary Wells Lawrence
Mary Wells Lawrence is a retired American advertising executive. She was the founding president of Wells Rich Greene, an advertising agency known for its creativity and innovative work, and the first woman CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.In the late 1940s, Mary Wells...
, Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan was a dancer, considered by many to be the creator of modern dance. Born in the United States, she lived in Western Europe and the Soviet Union from the age of 22 until her death at age 50. In the United States she was popular only in New York, and only later in her life...
, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, French Prime Ministers Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
and Raymond Barre
Raymond Barre
Raymond Octave Joseph Barre was a French centre-right politician and economist. He was a Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs under three Presidents and later served as Prime Minister under Valéry Giscard d'Estaing from 1976 until 1981...
and many more. Major Berkeley Levett
Berkeley John Talbot Levett
Berkeley John Talbot Levett CVO , was a Major in the Scots Guards and later a Gentleman Usher for the Royal family. He was a witness in the Royal Baccarat Scandal of 1890 in which the future King Edward VII was drawn into a gambling dispute which painted him in an unflattering light.-Life and...
, an English aristocrat and witness in the infamous Royal Baccarat Scandal
Royal Baccarat Scandal
The Royal Baccarat Scandal, also known as the Tranby Croft scandal, was an English gambling scandal of the late nineteenth century involving the future King Edward VII.-Background:...
, lived in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat with his brewery heiress wife, the former Sibell Bass
Hamar Alfred Bass
Hamar Alfred Bass was a British brewer, race horse breeder and a Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1898....
.
This wonderful place is the apex of the French Riviera's
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
"golden triangle", of Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
and Villefranche
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
.
Population
Climate
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has a mild, delightful Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures range from 9°C/48°F in January to 23°C/73°F in the summer. There is very little rainfall in the summer, making it ideal for holidays and charters. Although occasionally the Mistral winds arrive, it is more sheltered by the mountains than for example St. Tropez, so the winds are not as strong.Winter
As the temperatures drop below 10°C for only three months of the year (December to February), anytime is a good time to visit Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat although the summer season is recommended, when temperatures are at their highest but are still comfortable and are ideal for either going to the beach or a sightseeing holiday. The spring and autumn seasons are also warm enough, although more suited to those who prefer slightly cooler weather. Winters are balmy and the French Riviera is a great destination to escape the cold and gloomy weather that predominates in the northern European countries.Townscape
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
, such is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This elegant seaside resort, equipped with a marina, is renowned in the whole world for its wonderful peninsula which can be discovered thanks to many pedestrian paths.
Two of the major pursuits in Cap-Ferrat are strolling along the peninsula on the beautiful rocky path admiring the views and the villas, and having a relaxing meal in the restaurants lining the port or just above in the town. If you like mingling with the rich and famous, Cap-Ferrat is one of the best places in the world to do so.
Beaches
The three beaches are probably the best attraction for the casual visitor.Paloma beach
southeast of the port, on the north side small peninsula (St Hospice). Being on a northeast-facing shore and at the base of some tall cliffs, this beach is the most protected from winds, and has less sun in the afternoons. The location is about a 5–10 minutes walk from the port. From the Port, walk south and up the road past La Voile d'Or; straight, past the hotel Brise Marine, to the junction of Ave Claude Vignon; left, towards "Chapelle St. Hospice", for about 300 m.
Passable beach
is on the northwest side of the main peninsula, past the Office de Tourisme and past the zoo (parc zoologique). It's west-facing, with a view across the Rade de Villefranche.
Cro de Peï Pin
is the biggest beach, located just north of the port at the Anse Lilong (the bay between the main peninsula and the smaller Ste Hospice peninsula), facing eastward into the Baie des Fourmis and the Tete de Chene. There's a public parking lot alongside the beach.
Le Zoo Parc du Cap-Ferrat
The Zoological Garden is located in the north-western part of the peninsula, just past the Office de Tourisme. Directional signs are prominent when you arrive. Open every day of the year. This is a very cute Zoo in easy walking distance from the port.The Zoo du Cap-Ferrat has an impressive collection of flora and fauna. There are over 300 varieties of plants growing here, including succulents and cacti. There are also eucalyptus trees that are over 100 years old. A variety of animals also reside here.
Although a very beautiful zoo it has recently as off 2011 been closed down.
St Hospice
Go right up the lane from La Madone. At the end, turn right and follow the road up to the chapel. There's a very, very large bronze statue of the Madonna and Child , the early-19th century chapel, and a military cemetery for the 1914-18 war.Le Phare
A famous spot of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is the semaphore, built in 1862 by decision of Napoleon III who wanted to equip the French littoral with a semaphoric chain. The goal was to ensure a monitoring of navigation, to transmit messages to the ships, to organize the helps in the event of maritime disasters, to take part in the first maritime meteorological observations.Port de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
This is a small marina with 560 berths. It is very well-sheltered and quiet, located on the French Riviera. The surrounding is marvellous and you can have many services there. An exceptional port of call in the centre of a fishing village: illustrious, protected, set in a pedestrian environment.Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is one of the most glamorous hotels in the world. Built in 1908, this stately white palace, was regular guests Presidents, like Paul DeschanelPaul Deschanel
Paul Eugène Louis Deschanel was a French statesman. He served as President of France from 18 February 1920 to 21 September 1920.-Biography:...
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the...
, Queen Victoria's
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
daughter, who remained a faithful guest for many seasons and was often visited by her brother the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
who lived for twenty years on Cap Ferrat.
Culture
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
" the Cap-Ferrat was already the vacation resort of the world elite: the great names of this world came there, in winter period, to profit from its climate and the quality of life. Built by Baronness de Rothschild
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Charlotte Béatrice de Rothschild was a French socialite, art collector, and a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of France.- Biography :...
at the "Villa" is one of most beautiful of the Riviera. With its prestigious gardens whose exceptional rosery, it dominates the Mediterranean on all sides: on a side roads of Villefranche
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
and other the bay of Beaulieu
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
.
Musée Île-de-France
The Villa Ephrussi de RothschildVilla Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside palazzo constructed between 1905 and 1912 at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild in the Goût Rothschild. It was designed by the Belgian architect Aaron Messiah...
(or Musée Île-de-France) is an Italian style villa was built between 1905 and 1912 of the Baronness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
Charlotte Béatrice de Rothschild was a French socialite, art collector, and a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of France.- Biography :...
. It contains a large art collection and fine furnishing. The villa grounds have an extensive set of 7 gardens designed in different styles: French Traditional, Florentine, Spanish, Exotic, Lapidary, Japanese, Provençal. The villa is located at the northern end (entrance) of the peninsula.
Les Azuriales Opera Festival
The Les Azuriales Opera FestivalOpera Azuriales
The Opéra Les Azuriales , founded in 1997 by Sarah Holford, the Festival's President, and others from the local community. It takes place each year in August on Cap Ferrat, a part of the Côte d'Azur in France....
, founded in 1997, takes place each year in August in Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside palazzo constructed between 1905 and 1912 at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild in the Goût Rothschild. It was designed by the Belgian architect Aaron Messiah...
.
Local cuisine
With its coastal location, cuisine in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is based around seafood. Dishes worth trying include escalope de mérou au citron, which is escalope of sea bass in lime; salmon tournedos with truffles; cod and vegetables in garlic sauce; and skate with capers. Meat dishes include estouffade de sanglier (wild boar) and fillet de beef rossini cooked with foie gras.Restaurants
There are a number of restaurants to choose from lining the port or just above in the town :- Le Cap - the main restaurant at the Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
- Le Panorama - Hôtel Royal Riviera with an award winning chef
- Le Sloop - a nice restaurant on the port
- La Voile d’or - beautiful views over the port
Economy
One of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat's main sources of income is tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. The main attractions of Saint-jean-Cap-Ferrat is its pleasant climate its history and its circuit of yachts attracts thousands of tourists every year. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat also has a small port of fish.
Another Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat's source of income is the hotel industry and the real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
sector which is dynamic in the region.
Transportation
Train. The Nice-Ventimiglia train along the coast stops at Villefranche-sur-MerVillefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
and Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
, both a pretty long walk from St Jean-Cap-Ferrat. From Nice's central bus station, you can catch a bus to St Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This bus is more convenient than the train.
Air: The nearest airports are Toulon-Hyères, Nice-Côte d'Azur
Côte d'Azur International Airport
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is an airport located southwest of Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. The airport is positioned west of the city centre, and is the principal port of arrival for passengers to the Côte d'Azur. It is the third busiest airport in France after Charles de...
, Marseille-Provence
Marseille Provence Airport
Marseille Provence Airport or Aéroport de Marseille Provence is an airport located 27 km northwest of Marseille, on the territory of Marignane, both communes of the Bouches-du-Rhône département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région of France...
. The Nice Côte d'Azur airport
Côte d'Azur International Airport
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is an airport located southwest of Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. The airport is positioned west of the city centre, and is the principal port of arrival for passengers to the Côte d'Azur. It is the third busiest airport in France after Charles de...
, has regular flights to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.