La Tropicale
One of the most luxurious properties in La Californie, Cannes.
One of the four most luxurious properties in Cannes, La Tropicale rears up regally at the heart of La Californie. Currently offered for sale, it is indeed a real aristocrat !
The Côte d’Azur, land of so many legends and a melting-pot of architectural fantasy, boasts some truly amazing residences. Behind their “Belle Epoque” façades, time seems to have stood still in an era totally dedicated to sumptuousness. Let’s turn the pages back to 1879. A hundred canon shots ring out : Cannes is ready to welcome Tsarina Marie-Alexandrovna. For two whole months, she stayed on the Croisette, surrounded by her court and throwing sublime receptions. When she left, Prince Radzivill, wanting to see Russians stay longer on the Riviera, acquired the property on the famous seafront boulevard. Thus, just like Alexandre Hesse, the Tzarina’s brother, and the heir to Alexandre III, members of the nobility of Saint-Petersburg began to leave the Urals for the milder winters in the South of France. It was in this context that Prince Loubanov and Princess Rostouki elected domicile on the hills facing the town’s loveliest view : the Bay of Cannes, the Lérins Islands and the Estérel mountains. The fertile and ideally oriented grounds were soon transformed into a park with Mediterranean and tropical shrubs : and a legend was born. It took the form of a “Belle Epoque” residence complete with balustrades, columns, arcades and sculpted cornices. Prestigious visitors came to stay until 1914. Less than a quarter of a century after La Tropicale was built, war broke out and the Loubanov family was obliged to go home, never to return. The Bolshevik Revolution effaced all traces of their existence. La Tropicale then went into a deep slumber. We had to wait until 1987 and the arrival of the present owner before witnessing the rebirth of a princely palace. No effort or expense was spared in offering the immense villa a total facelift. And the final phase was renovation, entrusted to Richard Sansoe 15 years ago.
You can hardly miss La Tropicale amongst architectural landmarks in Cannes. It meets all the criteria imposed by the legend of the Riviera : an historic background, illustrious owners and almost excessive sumptuousness. Together with Bel Horizon, its next-door neighbour, Bagatelle, just a little higher up, and the nearby Notre-Dame-de-Grasse, it shares the highest rankings in the town of Cannes. Situated on the same private road as the Château Louis XIII, a gift made by shipbuilder Benitos Rexas to Edith Piaf, it offers rare living space on four floors and stretches out along its entire length right opposite the sea.
From the swimming pool down below, one can observe the huge building as it cascades down in harmonious “Belle Epoque” style. Palms and cypress trees stand watch over it… From here, one takes in its size, unsuspected from the access road, discreet even when one reaches its reception courtyard. Stone lions, a Tuscan fountain, floor paving inlaid wih ceramics, an arched door all set the tone… In the entrance hall, the monumental chandelier which dives down through the stairwell immediately captures one’s attention. On this floor -the third starting from the bottom-, it is merely passing through : it continues upwards for another few metres and descends as far as the eye can see, illuminating the stairwell with its wrought-iron railing and stained-glass windows. On one’s left one finds the first formal drawing-room. Old-fashioned drapes, droplet chandeliers and the music nook with its harp and grand piano recall the classical age, the sculpted ceiling and wall frescoes the “Belle Epoque”. All in tones of pale green… In the boudoir, the highlight is the Art Deco fireplace. And the first pieces of furniture in precious wood with gold leaf inlays make their appearance. Figurative paintings, often portraits, adorn the walls in all the rooms. The dining-room accommodates twelve guests ; the showcase occupying an entire stretch of wall evokes a taste for fine collections. In the master suite, luxury is self evident : the same wood furniture with designs borrowed from Art Deco or Renaissance furnishings. Madame’s bathroom is in rose-coloured marble, while that of Monsieur is all in blue. And good use of marble is made throughout the house. It comes from Norway, Portugal or Brazil, and features particularly fascinating veining. In all, there are four reception rooms, four small drawing-rooms, seven bedrooms with dressing-rooms and bathrooms, three kitchens and two wine cellars… For the house staff : six bedrooms and bathrooms, two lounges and two kitchens. A list that makes one dizzy, though less so than the tour… So many features crowd into one’s mind : here, Ionic-style columns, there, an elevator hiding behind a trompe-l’œil painting and a reproduction of Canova’s statue, “The Three Graces”…
By Laetitia Rossi - Photos Edith Andreotta
