Villa La Mauresque

Hidden from the boulevard’s hustle and bustle, Villa La Mauresque whispers tales of a bygone era. Here, on the glamorous Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this magnificent villa has witnessed a parade of iconic figures, from literary giants to royalty. Built around 1900 in a Moorish style for Félix Charmettant, a former missionary, Villa La Mauresque soon caught the eye of a literary icon. In 1927, Somerset Maugham, the renowned British novelist, acquired the property. He promptly commissioned architects to transform it, stripping away the Moorish elements and imbuing it with a classic European elegance. A new staircase, a spacious patio, and modernized interiors reflected Maugham’s sophisticated taste. Maugham’s Villa La Mauresque became a vibrant hub for the literary and social elite. Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, T.S. Eliot, H.G. Wells, and Virginia Woolf were just a few of the luminaries who graced its halls. The villa’s walls, adorned with masterpieces by Gauguin, Picasso, and Matisse, witnessed countless sparkling conversations and lively debates. But the idyllic atmosphere was shattered by the outbreak of World War II. Maugham, targeted by the Nazis for his writings, sought refuge in England. During his absence, the villa was occupied and looted, its façade riddled with bullet holes. Upon his return in 1946, Maugham found a scene of devastation, even discovering an unexploded bomb on his bedroom floor. Undeterred, he embarked on a meticulous restoration, once again enlisting the help of architect Barry Dierks. The villa’s gardens, once a lush paradise, were reduced to a quarter of their original size. However, the spirit of Villa La Mauresque, a testament to resilience and timeless elegance, endures. Maugham resided at Villa La Mauresque until his death in 1965, leaving behind a legacy as vibrant as the personalities who once graced his home. The villa’s journey continued, passing through the hands of socialite Lynn Wyatt and eventually, in 2005, to new owners for a staggering 50 million euros. Today, Villa La Mauresque stands as a silent observer, its walls echoing the laughter and whispers of a remarkable past, a hidden gem on the captivating Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.