Villa Tholozan, villa in Hyères, France

Villa Tholozan is a two-storey villa of cut stone built in 1858 in Hyères, at 50 avenue Alphonse-Denis and 8 boulevard d'Orient. Its central projecting bay has a round-arched porch with dark double doors, a balustraded balcony with three arched recesses above, and a triangular pediment; the side wings carry rectangular windows with balustraded balconies. The facade turned toward the sea is the most notable.

Built in 1858 for the Duke of Luynes (1802-1867), deputy director of the museum of Greek and Egyptian antiquities, the villa is among the oldest in Hyères. The architect is most likely Frédéric Debacq, who had worked on the restoration of the Château de Dampierre with Charles Garnier; Félix Duban is also mentioned. In 1867 it passed to the Duke's granddaughter Louise de Sabran-Pontevès (1864-1914), then to her son Honoré de Lareinty-Tholozan (1887-1916), his brother Jules (1886-1946) and sister Alyette (1892-1954). It was listed as a monument historique in 1975.

The villa's second name, Villa Alberti, is not explained in the sources. The Tholozan name comes from Honoré de Lareinty-Tholozan (1887-1916), grandson of Louise de Sabran-Pontevès, who received the house from her in 1867; it then passed to his brother Jules and sister Alyette. The villa was lived in mainly in winter, and its reception rooms and terraces were arranged to catch sun and the sea view.

The villa is located on Rue Alphonse-Denis near Boulevard d'Orient in the Chateaubriand district and is easy to find while walking. Since it remains a private residence, it is not open to the public, but its classical exterior and setting provide an interesting view from the street.

The facade turned away from the city to face the sea, a choice shared by other Napoleon III-era villas on the heights of Hyères. The architect is probably Frédéric Debacq, who had worked on the restoration of the Château de Dampierre with Charles Garnier; Félix Duban is also cited. The villa was lived in mainly in winter.