Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

"This lovely seaside villa was constructed between 1907 and 1912 by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild (1864–1934), a member of the Rothschild banking family. The villa itself is extremely interesting. The Baroness enjoyed traveling and collecting art, so the rooms are filled with antique furniture, Old Master paintings, sculptures, and objets d'art. The gardens also reflect the baroness's love of travel. Even though the villa is stunning, the setting and the gardens are even more lovely. With the sea visible from every angle, the garden was designed to resemble a ship and be viewed from the house's loggia, which resembled a ship's bridge. (The thirty gardeners who looked after the space were even decked out as sailors, complete with red pom-pom berets, to fit the theme!) It’s divided into nine aeas with different themes: French, Spanish, Japanese, Florentine, Provençal, exotic, a stone garden, a rose garden, and a garden of Sèvres. Given the variety of plant species, the ticket office offers a complimentary map that shows when is the best time to visit each garden based on the month and which flowers are in full bloom. Anyway, all year long the gardens are stunning! The area behind the villa is devoted to the largest garden, the French garden. One of its features is a recreation of the Temple of Love at the Versailles Petit Trianon palace, along with water features that are synced to music. A variety of gargoyles, columns, and other architectural features from historic and medieval structures can be found in the lapidary, or stone garden. The Japanese garden features lanterns, a bridge, and a wooden pavilion. Rare plants and enormous cacti can be found in the exotic garden. Adjacent to it is a pink-dominated rose garden, the owner's favorite color, featuring a statue encircled by columns. A garden of native Provence plants and a garden decorated with Sèvres porcelain are located on the east side of the villa. Bus number 83 took me from Éze village to the villa. At first, the bus was fairly crowded as many people boarded it in order to transfer to another bus that would take them to Monaco, but things improve significantly after those passengers depart. I then stopped at Montée du Rêve and then walked about 20 minutes to the villa, but if you don’t want to walk, there’s a bus stop directly in front of the villa’s entrance; you just have to switch to bus 15 then (you can use the same bus ticket). Coming from Nice, you can take the train to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and then take bus 15 to the villa (or walk about 30 minutes). It is possible to combine this day trip with a day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer since Bus 15 also connects to that location. I have been to Éze, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Villefranche-sur-Mer all in the same day (getting there later, around dinnertime); it is definitely possible, though you will need to get up early and have less time at each place. It is preferable to do just one or two on the same day, unless your main goal is to go to Villefranche-sur-Mer for dinner. Tickets to the villa and gardens cost 17€ and include an audioguide in multiple languages. Tickets are free for children under 7 years old and disabled visitors. There’s also reduced rates for students. "

"Built between 1907 and 1912 by renowned architect Aaron Messiah, the villa embodies the elegance of the French Renaissance style. Its imposing facade, adorned with intricate details and sculptures, hints at the treasures within. Step beyond the grand entrance and prepare to be enchanted by the villa's crown jewel - nine breathtaking themed gardens. Each garden is a masterpiece of landscape design, meticulously planned by Achille Duchêne and boasting unique flora, water features, and architectural elements. Venture inside the villa and marvel at the opulent interiors. Grand salons adorned with exquisite furniture, tapestries, and artworks transport you back to the era of lavish parties and sophisticated gatherings. Each room reflects Baroness Rothschild's impeccable taste and her passion for art and design. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is more than just a stunning residence; it's a museum offering visitors a glimpse into a bygone era. Explore the various rooms, marvel at the collections of art and furniture, and learn about the life and legacy of Baroness Rothschild."

"When I stepped into the gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild, I felt like I jumped inside the Secret Garden. I couldn’t shake the feeling of nostalgia. It felt like I was in a fairytale. At Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, you’re able to stroll through the following gardens: - The French Garden (the main garden) - The Spanish Garden - Florentine Garden - Stone Garden - Japanese Garden - Exotic Garden - Rose Garden - Provençal Garden I highly recommend visiting early in the morning if you want to be able to throughly explore all the gardens. I visited the Villa in the afternoon with my friends and if I were to visit again, I would have went earlier in the day so I could enjoy the gardens at a more leisurely pace. Adult Admission is €16 and the Villa also offers a free self-guided audio tour of the permanent collections, if you’re interested (Available in 9 languages: French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese and Russian). "