The Villa and Gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild

There is a train stop between Nice and Monaco called "Beaulieu-sur-Mer".  How could you not want to get out and have a look around "Beautifulspot-on the-Sea"? We made this our stop last week, taking a bus to the top of the "Cap Ferrat", Cape Ferrat, to visit the "Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild".  This residence, with its nine gardens, was built by the Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild beginning in 1905.

Here is a photo I took of an aerial view of the villa and the town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the background, that was posted by the entryway.

The view of the villa from the French garden.

Grace and Barry enjoying the water display in the French garden that is set to music every twenty minutes.

Out of the villa's nine gardens, my two favourites were the Japanese garden and the Stone garden.  The Rose garden may have ousted one of these two if we had been there when the roses were in bloom.

Another view of the Japanese garden. 

 Above and below are photos of the Stone garden.

It was a beautiful spot on the sea for sure, but the day we were there we could also have called it "Windyspot-on the-Sea".

We were given headphones to listen to commentary on our walk through the rooms of the villa.   Here is a part of Béatrice's French porcelain collection, much of it from the mid 18th century, thought by some to be the finest in the world.  

A corner of Béatrice's bedroom with some late afternoon sun shining in from the window overlooking the Bay of Villefranche.  She had several small chairs, like the one that appears in the forefront, that had been specially made for her dogs.

Béatrice's Grand Salon...

...with its views out to the "Baie des Fourmis", "Bay of Ants", so named for the black boulders found in its waters.

The view from the villa's top balcony.

A view from the second floor looking down to the patio, where Béatrice would welcome her guests and hold receptions.  I've never seen a foyer quite like it.

My favourite detail from inside the villa was the ceiling designs in the patio ceiling.

And, our visit was polished off with drinks for in the tearoom.  The prices matched the decor.  That is why all four of us shared this €9 piece of chocolate cake.  The bite that was my share was very good.  Come to think of it, I'm sure Baroness Rothschild never had to share her slices of cake...