Could these walls whisper tales of Queen Victoria and Grace Kelly? We are standing before Villa Beau Site. This legendary property holds a firm place in Nice’s cultural heritage.
Originally built in 1870, Villa Beau Site got its name from Achille Larrey. He was a wealthy adventurer who bought the property in 1882. Nice was entering its first golden age. The city became a destination for the rich and royal. Larrey modified Beau Site to show off his wealth.
He hired local architect Sebastien Marcel Biasini. Larrey wanted to turn his dreams into reality. Corinthian columns were added. The tower was redesigned with archways and terraces. These additions gave the villa strong neoclassical features. After Achille Larrey died, his widow continued his dream. Around 1910, she bought more land. This allowed her to build two more villas. One was for staff, and the other for guests.
In the 1920s, an English diamond merchant bought Villa Beau Site. Little is known about him. He owned the property until 1940. He likely fled the German invasion with other Englishmen.
In 1948, Gisele Tissier bought Villa Beau Site. Her life matched the extraordinary house perfectly. Widow, eccentric, musician, collector, couturier, and bohemian. Gisele breathed new life into the villa. She brought her high-class friends to the Riviera. Fellow musicians and wealthy clients came to restart their lives. A new golden era began for Nice and for Villa Beau Site.
It’s said that Gisele Tissier arrived in Nice with 18 harps and 3 grand pianos. Ten train carriages carried her luggage. Besides being a harpist, Gisele opened a fashion boutique in Paris. She attracted elegant and wealthy clients. Beau Site’s fortunes rose as the French Riviera became a top destination. Legends like Grace Kelly and Winston Churchill visited. They frequented the casinos and nightspots of the Cote d’Azur. Gisele and her friends created their paradise overlooking the Port of Nice.
Life at Beau Site became more bohemian. As with all things, the second golden era ended. Gisele Tissier’s fortunes faded. In her old age, money ran out. The property began to fall into disrepair.
But Gisele had one last surprise. A year before her death, The Cure recorded a video for their single “Catch” at the villa. The Cure’s video shows Villa Beau Site in Gisele Tissier’s last year. You can see faded opulence and damaged splendor. Yet, the magic remained.
Giselle left Beau Site to the Ville de Nice. It became a national monument. The spirit of Beau Site lives on. Voices and music may have faded but the feeling and history remain.
The villa was empty for years. The Institut de France struggled to decide what to do with it. Eventually, an entrepreneurial family bought the property. They created a restoration project. The Mairie de Nice and Architects de Batiments de France approved the plans.
The property may be in disrepair. But enough original features remain. Frescoes, vaulted windows, colonnades and murals. They still give visitors a sense of history. And the view. It is breathtaking.
Villa Beau Site actually consists of four villas. Villa Beau Site, L’Isba, Villa Les Rochers, and Villa Hyacinthe. They are interconnected and spread over different levels. There are more than 20 rooms.
Plans are approved to evolve the villa. The project will create a contemporary property. It will retain the essence of this masterpiece. The approval includes pools, a spa, and garaging. The finished property will be exceptional on the Cote d’Azur. Villa Beau Site awaits its new golden age.