Côte d’Azur: Where living becomes a backdrop.

No stretch of coastline in Europe combines glamour, history and the Mediterranean way of life quite so effortlessly as the French Riviera. The international estate agency Christie’s International Real Estate – a partner company of WüstundWüst – has dedicated an article to the region entitled “Coastal Chic: 4 Cinematic Homes Along the French Riviera”. We’re taking this as an opportunity to take a look at what has made the Côte d’Azur one of the most sought-after retreats for people with high standards when it comes to their leisure time for decades.

A stage for the rich and famous – since the 1920s

The Riviera’s reputation as a place of longing is nothing new. As early as the 1920s, figures such as F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Rudolph Valentino spent their days at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes; in the 1950s, Brigitte Bardot lent Saint-Tropez its unmistakable glamour; and in the 1970s, the Rolling Stones recorded their legendary album “Exile on Main St.” at Villa Nellcote in Villefranche-sur-Mer. To this day, the coast remains a favourite summer haunt for European aristocracy, film stars and the international jet set – not least thanks to the annual Cannes Film Festival.

Architecture with a view: from the Belle Époque to the contemporary villa

The houses along the Riviera tell the story of the region just as much as its inhabitants do. Magnificent Belle Époque estates such as the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat stand alongside clean-lined, contemporary designer villas with panoramic glazing. Popular locations such as Cap Ferrat, Cap d’Antibes or the hills above Cannes offer a rare combination: absolute privacy whilst being in close proximity to some of Europe’s most exclusive addresses.

Leisure at the very highest level

What makes the Riviera so attractive to discerning holidaymakers is the concentration of first-class leisure activities within a very small area. Sailing and yachting are just as much a part of everyday life as gourmet cuisine in Michelin-starred restaurants, exclusive beach clubs such as the legendary Club 55 in Ramatuelle, or strolls through the charming alleyways of medieval hilltop villages such as Èze. Culture is not neglected either: art galleries, historic gardens and boutiques characterise the scene just as much as the famous beaches between Nice and Saint-Tropez.

Currently available: 4 Cinematic Homes along the French Riviera

Thus, fresh from the premieres and star-studded after parties, Luxury Defined  – the online magazine of Christie’s International Real Estate – presents four residences along the French Riviera, each shaped by its own relationship to the Mediterranean landscape.

Bella Vista in Cap D’Antibes