Gated estates in the Alpes-Maritimes
Of Anglo-Saxon origin, the concept has long been popular on the Côte d’Azur. And landscaped estates dotted with luxury villas are still burgeoning. Concern for security, a need for services or the guarantee of like-minded neighbours fuel the success of these properties with special and well-entrenched characteristics...
While they may share roads, landscaped parks, concierge services, garden maintenance and certain leisure facilities such as swimming pools, pool-houses, gyms, play areas, a reception building or even a beach, the villas on these famous “domaines” never sacrifice their privacy. They simply benefit from condominium-style organization, ultra-convenient and highly reassuring, given that most of their occupants only spend a few weeks per year on the Riviera. “As prestigious as you could wish, the Côte d’Azur version is considerably watered down : the wealthy do not appreciate “joint use” of so-called “shared premises”. Some parks have only recently acquired gates and surveillance posts, which are, in fact, their only attributes,” says Tim Sanders of the John Taylor Agency.
“Les Hauts de Saint-Paul host 120 mail-boxes on top of a hill. Transactions, totalling five per year, average between 2 and 5 million euros, while an exceptional property - ie. a residence of 1,000 m2 in grounds of 8,000 m2 facing the strip of coast between the Riviera dei Fiori to the Saint-Tropez peninsula - can soar to 20 million,” adds our specialist. These occasional residents from all four corners of the globe, representing 75 % of the owners, cross each other’s paths, but do not necessarily co-exist. Notre-Dame, a small estate within walking distance of the medieval village, consists of eight properties in a discreet and exclusive world. Recently, a client paid 4 million euros for a plot of 5,000 m2 with a house to be demolished and the right to build with a 10 % construction ratio. Each estate has its own peculiarities. The guardian is one such prerogative offered by Le Golf d’Opio, situated not far from the greens. The 25 owners, delighted to enjoy the benefits of stewardship, will certainly not deny it. Prices here range from 1.5 to 3 million euros, while annual charges do not exceed 2,000 €.
“Operating costs at Le Castellet, a garden of Eden up above the bay of Villefranche, are also relatively low. Its contemporary houses appeal to Russian oligarchs and showbiz personalities, including Tina Turner,” says Dominique André of Aylesford-Immobilière Bellevue. Semi-detached houses start at 1.5 million euros, whereas a property of 600 m2, opening out to a double pool overlooking the seaside resort dear to Jean Cocteau, the Baie des Fourmis and the Estérel hills, can reach 25 million euros. On Cap Martin, residences right at the water’s edge have nothing to envy of sumptuous mansions on Cap Ferrat. Only the barons of raw commodities, often from East European countries, can still afford the former home of Mobutu or its neighbours. The starting-price here is 15 million euros, though the record so far posted is 240 million. The east side of the Alpes-Maritimes certainly seems to offer fewer estates, but is more expensive than the west. For similar properties, the “gated and guarded” label means a price-tag 30 % higher.
“Castellaras, famous for its houses designed by Jacques Couëlle, and the Royal Mougins Golf Club, the obvious choice for fans of the little white ball and hotel service, never lose sight of the importance of residents’ entertainment,” notes Alexandre Goldstein of Magrey & Sons. More concerned about privacy, home-owners in Les Parcs de Mougins give priority to security. Just 10 minutes from the Croisette, this address, which benefits from the luxuriant setting of La Valmasque and rapid access to the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, is gated and monitored 24 hours a day. Most of the properties boast grounds ranging from 2,500 m2 to about 2.5 acres and cost from 2 to 3 million euros, with peaks close on 10 million euros, the amount required, for example, for a residence of 700 m2 in almost 3 acres of land. La Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Vie compensates by offering generous grounds, as does the highly confidential estate of Redon, probably the most exclusive address in Mougins, the most sought-after area among fans of luxury properties. Conversely, aficionados of the Festival City look first for a pleasant setting and comfortable appointments. “Estate” status then comes into play. Facing due south, properties in Les Hauts de Cannes, surveying the Mediterranean from the highly prized Chemin des Collines, offer living space of 200 to 600 m2 in grounds of 800 m2. Here, a home of 250 m2 is worth 3 to 4 million euros, versus less than 5 million euros, the budget required for a residence of 570 m2 in grounds of 3,000 m2 on an estate on the same road. The price difference between these estates in Cannes is mainly justified by the central location and historic prestige associated with Les Hauts de Cannes.
By Laetitia Rossi
