Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

Welcome to the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel. This legendary destination on the Côte d’Azur is truly a paradise on earth, the epitome of French Riviera glamour and, as of May 8, 2015, world-renowned Four Seasons service.

Originally opened in 1908, this magnificent white building sits at the tip of the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat jutting into the Mediterranean about half way between Nice and Monaco. Bathed in the azure light of sea and sky, this wildly beautiful landscape is fragrant with lavender, pine and citrus groves, and dotted with exquisitely groomed gardens.

History is present everywhere in this gleaming palace, with a bay-windowed rotunda designed by the great Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel). Fully refurbished in 2009 under the guidance of renowned designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the interiors balance gleaming white marble and chic textures of white and beige, putting the emphasis on gorgeous Mediterranean views and colourful reproductions of works by French artists, including Picasso, Cocteau, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani and Rodin – many of whom were local to the area and regular guests at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat.

The Grand-Hôtel has long been a favourite retreat among royalty, dignitaries and celebrities – from Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Picasso to Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Paul McCartney.

Encompassing three buildings – the original 1908 Palace, the contemporary Residence and the singular Villa Rose-Pierre – the Grand-Hôtel presides over 7 hectares (17 acres) of lush grounds including gardens, pools and tennis courts, with the Mediterranean Sea at its feet.

Located just 30 minutes’ drive from Nice (40 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur International airport) near the tiny seaside village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is also just 25 minutes’ drive from Monaco, and 50 from Cannes. Flights between Nice and Paris are less than 90 minutes, suggesting a delightful itinerary that includes another legendary establishment, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris.