Outstanding views and gardens from this opulent villa. The views of the sea were to die for while…read morethe grounds and inside were equally impressive. Wish I had done my homework as the Villa has an on premise restaurant. Manageable walk from the Beaulieu-sur-Mer train station taking the scenic coastal route in which you will be greatly rewarded with numerous photo opportunities. Of all the places I visited on my trip (Nice, Cannes, Eze, Antibes, Monaco) this was the most picturesque.

Forgot that I hadn't written a review! Visited last year and really enjoyed a relaxing afternoon,…read morewandering the house and the grounds. It's a gorgeous estate built as a winter house for Béatrice de Rothschild (yes of the famously wealthy Rothschild family*) between 1907-1912, that is currently managed by the Academie des Beaux Arts, having been bequeathed this estate in 1933 by the owner prior to her passing. As a significant collector and appreciator of art, the property houses a varied array of art forms from different eras, that Béatrice acquired over her lifetime. The gardens are also cultivated with several distinct themes. Located on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the villa smack dab (~10 km away) from both Nice and Monaco. The closest train station is Beaulieu-sur-Mer from where you can take bus #15 directly to the outer driveway entrance, about 5-6 minute walk slightly uphill to the ticketing entrance and gift shop. Arriving by car there is free parking available in a lot. The views from the villa's elevated position on a hill overlooks the Bay of Villefranche and the Bay of Beaulieu. A tremendous number of mansions (owned by the ultra wealthy and celebrities) also dot the landscape. Walking up to the entrance, tickets can be purchased inside or prior online. Regular adult tickets are €18, €12 reduced, free for children 7 and under. A combined ticket along with Villa Kérylos is available for purchase on-site only for €24. It's possible to visit both in one day with time to spare, as they're only about 10 minutes driving from each other. Inside, on the left hand side of the lobby free audio guides are available, there is also a free activity book for younger children. The tour takes you around the first floor first, then around the second floor, providing information on Béatrice's life and times, explaining the history of the villa and the highlights of the collection in each room. The total tour takes about 45 minutes. The rooms are gorgeous period rooms with an eclectic variety of decorative furnishings, sculptures and paintings. The grand scale of the main lobby and bath room impressed me. After this I'd recommend taking a stroll in the gardens, where you can enjoy the musical fountains and varied landscapes of each themed garden - French, Spanish, Florentine, stone, Japanese, exotic, rose and Provençal. If you're into the outdoors, horticulture or simply looking for a beautiful place to relax, you could spend hours here. I only spent about 45 minutes in the gardens and felt there was so much more to see. There are miles of walking paths. Mostly not handicap accessible though parts are. There's a tea-room restaurant that's set up in what appears used to be the formal dining room. It's open for lunch and dinner with a break between. For more info see villa-ephrussi.com/en/ *currently still one of the world's wealthiest families with fortunes derived from banking, they are a Jewish family with origins tracing back to Frankfurt, Germany.

Lovely to explore on a sunny day! For fans of unique architecture, furniture and decor this place…read moreis a treat. Walking into the entryway I immediately felt like I'd stepped into an issue of Architectural Digest. All the rooms in the villa were gorgeous! From the Roman bath right at the entrance to the open courtyard, library, dining room and main reception room, the Greek Revival style which reminded me of a mix between Art Deco and Art Nouveau in terms of style lines, but with strong Greek elements. The first and second floors are open to the public, and a free audio guide in language of choice comes included in the ticket price. If you listen to all the details in the guide it takes about 45 minutes to walk thru the house. Add on 15-20 minutes enjoying the view and about 15 minutes in the ground floor exhibit and you can easily spend 1.5 hours here. There is an exhibition in the basement/ground level of the Roman ruins in the area, with placards showing their chronological history and diagrams and sketched recreations. They went into a lot of detail though unfortunately for non-French readers these were only in French. Helpful to have a live photo translation app though my cell service underneath stone walls and right beside the sea edge was quite spotty. At €13 a ticket which is prob a bit steep for local activities tho there is a combination ticket for Villa Kerylos and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild over a few days that's €22. A decent deal considering separate tickets are €30 total. The ticket office associate was friendly and helpful. Take the train from towns along the coast to Beaulieu-sur-Mer then walk 10 minutes, or local buses 607 or 15 which also stop close by to the villa entrance. The town itself is nice to walk around a bit and enjoy the harbor area.

As a classics student I found Kerylos fullfilled so many fantasies of revisiting the lavish homes…read moreof senators and orators who I have read about so often. As if time had leapt back 2000 years... The mosaics and atrium are stunning, and the villa in its entirity is only complimented by the beautiful location on the french coast. I can't wait to go back!

Beautiful garden and mansion, the gardens along the property in various themes, amazing views…read more Central garden with water feature set to music and large reflection pool. Great restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Has dinner show with music, must be magical and a glimpse of dinner parties of the mansion's past. Great way to spend a morning.

When our tour guide first brought us here, I didn't know what it was, to be honest. "It's also…read moreknown as the Saint-Elme Citadel, which is a historical monument in a large military stronghold built by the Dukes of Savoy as part of a larger defensive network protecting the royal port of La Darse." That was a direct quote by the tour guide. There were a few windows overlooking the sea that were used to resist a possible attack by the sea. I admit, the outlook was spectacular. Especially seeing the breathtaking views of the sea surrounding Villefranche-sur-Mer. What surprised me most during this tour was their gardens. The surroundings are definitely seen in better days, but the garden is beautifully tended. As you make your way up there, I urge you to wear comfortable shoes. The roads are uneven at times and one lady complained she nearly sprained her ankle.

Great view of the bay and there is a seasonal outdoor cinema that looks like it would be very nice…read more The museum isn't much, nor is there much to see, but it's an enjoyable walk around for the views. A good use of 15-20 minutes of your time.

From the owner: Un rêve de gosse C'est dans ces termes que Jean-Pierre Speidel, créateur et directeur du lieu,…read moreparle de son musée. Ici, magie et pédagogie mènent les visiteurs dans un monde surprenant : en appuyant sur un bouton, vous pourrez donner vie aux multiples personnages qui peuplent l'endroit. Tout comporte une bonne dose de merveilleux. Le Bar se transforme fréquemment en petite scène de théâtre avec des oiseaux en cage qui chantent et des bouteilles où dansent des ballerines sous les yeux d'un drôle de bonhomme impassible. Il en est de même du côté du restaurant le Nissa la Bella - tenu par une figure locale, Hélène Barale - peuplé d'automates, de sculptures animées, d'effets d'optique et même d'Art Forain. Puis, d'autres surprises vous attendent : le couloir de l'Infini, l'Atelier du musée, La Maison de Tarzan et le Salon Hanté... Et Jean-Pierre Speidel d'ajouter : "C'est un musée animé, un musée spectacle que j'ai créé pour faire partager tous mes rêves magiques".

From the owner: Qui sommes-nous? Où sommes-nous? Le Musée de Terra Amata est installé sur le lieu même de la…read moredécouverte d'un site d'habitat préhistorique ayant livré les plus anciens foyers aménagés par des hommes voici 400.000 ans. A cette époque, le niveau de la mer était plus élevé. Une grande partie de Nice était alors submergée et le rocher du Château était une île. Sur une plage de galets, à côté d'une source d'eau douce, des tribus de chasseurs préhistoriques installaient pour quelques jours leur campement de chasse. Articulé autour du grand moulage d'un sol d'habitat, le musée présente le mobilier des fouilles, ossements et outils, les analyses de laboratoire, des reconstitutions évoquant la vie des hommes préhistoriques. Le musée est adapté à tous les publics, en particulier aux déficients visuels qui bénéficient d'un parcours tactile et sonore.