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.
