Villa Les Cèdres, Private mansion in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
Villa Les Cèdres is a private mansion on the French Riviera featuring 14 bedrooms, an Olympic swimming pool, and a library with thousands of books. The estate spans multiple levels and includes horse stables as well as extensive grounds filled with exotic plants.
The estate was founded in 1830 by carpet merchants from Nice and acquired in 1904 by Belgian King Leopold II, who added a third level. This royal expansion shaped the appearance of the property for generations to come.
The house contains a bronze statue of Athena and maintains one of Europe's largest private botanical gardens filled with tropical plants from around the world. The garden reflects how the owners transformed the property into a living collection that shaped the identity of this coastal estate.
The property sits roughly 30 minutes' drive from both Nice and Monaco, making it fairly accessible from either city. Keep in mind that this is a private residence and access may be limited depending on visiting arrangements.
The Marnier-Lapostolle family used oranges grown in the estate's orchards to produce their Grand Marnier liqueur over several decades. This link between the villa and the world-famous drink remains part of the property's story.
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