“One of the most outstanding properties in the area,” murmur the locals at La Colle-sur-Loup. Sheltered from prying eyes behind high hedges, this villa, currently offered for sale, is well worth a visit.
On the main road of La Colle-sur-Loup, a few yards from the stores, a discreet gateway seems to conceal ancestral secrets. Once inside, one is swallowed up in a park of about 3.5 acres. To the left, clipped as precisely as a classic French garden, an enclosure surrounds a vegetable garden. Just opposite, in front of a hardly visible tennis court, apricot, pear, apple and fig trees thrive in a lovely orchard. The main impression corresponds to one’s usual idea of a beautiful property on the Côte d’Azur : this residence of 650 m2 reigns supreme with its majestic pool area and pool-house perfectly integrated into the setting. The visitor passes through a stone porch beneath the severe gaze of a knight in armour, an amusing hark-back to a glorious past. One then discovers a blend of different styles, though the main inspiration is Provençal. Terra-cotta floors, walls with a patina whose colours change as one advances through the house. In the hall with its wrought-iron chandelier, one can either mount the stairs or head for the living areas. Parallel to the pool one finds the library, all in wood, the dining-room, lounge and study, all inter-connected though preserving their privacy, ensured by arcade-style doors and plays on perspective. In a pale yellow ambiance, ceiling beams, rich velvet curtains and a fireplace add to the overall warmth. Two bathrooms on this floor indicate new developments : when the previous owner acquired the property in the ’seventies, he entrusted its renovation to André Svetchine. An interior decor that the present master of the house has contented himself with simply refreshing. The spacious kitchen features a La Cornue cooking range and Portuguese-style ceramics. Even more picturesque, the first floor starts out with a classic billiard room, while the main reception room overlooks Saint-Paul. The bar with its rose-coloured patina creates a visual break, then two parallel staircases beckon towards the upper floors. On one side, the master apartment with its circular layout gives a triple view of Saint-Paul, the park and La Colle, with wall-coverings in a “Belle Epoque” motif. On the other side, a second bedroom with bathroom and den. A third, in tones of grey, has opted for the cosy charm of an English manor. And while the property is basically Mediterranean, the furnishings have a hint of north European. The huge chandeliers, double drapes with crinolines and baroque ties, the cornices and antiques adorned with gold-leaf all recall the charm of yesteryear. The bathrooms deserve a special mention. Refurbished during the psychedelic era, one flaunts lava-stone in electric blue, the master bathroom is all in violet, two others opt for yellow and burgundy red, and the most surprising of all boasts a red-and-black chequer pattern, making a clean break with the canopy bed in the room it adjoins. The paintwork, the different heights and undulations of the ceilings and lighting create relief. Columns emphasize, mouldings round things off… All architectural details that differente this villa from its neighbours.
Particular care has been lavished on the park. The lawn rolls down between tall trees, including aspens whose green and grey leaves rustle in the breeze. Elegant balls of boxwood stand guard along the terraces : ivy clambers over the well and an immense wrought-iron cage adds more old-fashioned charm. Yet it’s hard to pin-point the property’s origins. On the old Salt Tax Road, it may have belonged to monks in the 16th century. The righthand part of the house with the tower dates from this period. The other wing may have been built in the 17th century. The estate was then comprised of some 75 acres and some claim that it accommodated the stables of the Château de Montfort.