Visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild: Gardens, Hours, Tips

Set on the isthmus of Cap Ferrat, the villa looks out over the Bay of Villefranche on one side and the bay of Beaulieu on the other. It's the big cultural visit in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

A Belle Époque villa born of a passion

The villa was built between 1905 and 1912 for Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864–1934), a passionate collector of art and lover of gardens. The architect Aaron Messiah oversaw its construction. On her death in 1934, Béatrice bequeathed the estate and her collections to the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Institut de France), which still owns it today.

The site was managed by Culturespaces for many years (from 1991); according to available sources, the Académie des Beaux-Arts has run it directly since 1 January 2023 . The villa and its gardens have been listed as historic monuments since 1996.

Inside, the furnished salons display Béatrice's collections: furniture, porcelain, paintings and objets d'art, in a series of rooms opening onto a patio.

The nine gardens: the heart of the visit

The estate covers about seven hectares and features nine themed gardens:

• the French garden, facing the villa, with its large ornamental pool;
• the Spanish garden;
• the Florentine garden;
• the Sèvres garden;
• the stone garden, filled with sculpted fragments;
• the Japanese garden;
• the exotic garden;
• the Provençal garden;
• the rose garden.

The overall layout recalls the deck of a ship, hence the nickname "Villa Île-de-France", after the ocean liner. Take the time to climb up to the little temple at the end of the French garden: from there you can see both bays and the whole of the formal gardens.

Our visiting tip

Start with the villa at opening time, while the salons are still quiet, then move on to the gardens before the heat builds. The paths include steps and slopes, so wear comfortable shoes.

Opening hours, prices and how long to allow

According to the Nice Côte d'Azur tourist office, the villa is open every day from 10am to 6pm from February to early November (7pm in July and August), with shorter weekday hours in winter. There are one-off closures on some days, particularly for private events .

• Time needed: about 2 hours for a self-guided visit.
• Price: ; there's a reduced rate for young people and students, and entry is free for under-7s, according to the tourist office.
• Food and drink: the "Béatrice" tea room and restaurant, with sea views, is open during the day .
• Accessibility: wheelchair accessible with assistance, according to the tourist office.

Address: 1, avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Tel. 04 93 01 33 09.

How to get there

By bus

The easiest option: Lignes d'Azur bus no. 15, from Nice ("Lycée Masséna" stop) or from Beaulieu-sur-Mer station. Get off at "Passable Rothschild", less than 500 m from the entrance .

By train, then on foot

From Beaulieu-sur-Mer station (TER Nice–Monaco line), it's around a 30-minute walk. You can take part of the Promenade Maurice Rouvier, which runs along the sea and joins the villa via a small path.

By car

The tourist office mentions a free car park at the entrance, on the RD 6098 (Basse Corniche) .

Combining the villa with the rest of the cape

The villa sits at the entrance to the peninsula, making it ideal for starting your day. After your visit, head down to the port of Saint-Jean and then walk the Pointe Saint-Hospice loop. Our full itinerary is in things to do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. If you love aesthetes' houses, Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu is within walking distance via the Promenade Maurice Rouvier.

Kayaking with Azurkay

From the gardens, you can see the two bays on either side of Cap Ferrat. To explore them at water level, our Beaulieu-sur-Mer tour follows the coast of Cap Ferrat by kayak, in a small group of 16 people maximum with a state-qualified instructor . Half a day at sea, half a day in the gardens: the perfect pairing.