Villa Santo Sospir

From the moment I received the invite to visit Villa Santo Sospir I knew this was going to be something special.  In fact I have held off writing about the villa for over two years because quite frankly it felt like one of those secrets you just wanted to keep for yourself.

The legendary Villa Santo Sospir was owned by the socialite Francine Weiseiller and her husband Eric who spent most of his time in Paris with his mistress.

After Francine’s death in 2003 it was passed down to her daughter Carole but in order to avoid the huge inheritance tax and because of nature of the villa, it has now been considered an historical monument.

The serene settings of Villa Santo Sospir on the southeastern tip of the exclusive Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat close to the landmark lighthouse on the peninsula is in somewhat contrast to the non-traditional activities held back in the day with a house consistently full of family and friends.

If you are an art history buff, you will love to hear the juicy details of an interweaving group of friendships installed in Villa Santo Sospir.  These friendships brought with it not only lots of love and creativity but with that also came jealousy and sometimes even volatile times.

Property manager Eric who started off being a nurse for the late socialite long before her death has continued to live in the villa as the entrusted caretaker and guide to this day.  His love for the place truly shines through in how well it is maintained and untouched, it is like stepping into a time warp seeing how it is set up just as the owner Francine had lived in it.

Eric will patiently guide you from room to room telling you stories about the wild parties from those in the art world to the sometimes sad and lonely times of the socialite Francine.

As part of the story goes, in the Spring of 1950 Francine Weiseiller invited the artist Jean Cocteau to the villa for dinner and basically he and his handsome boyfriend (otherwise known as his “adopted son”) Edouard Dermit ended up moving in and staying for 13 years.

Initially Francine’s villa was painted all white inside, looking at it like a canvas; Jean Cocteau offered to do a drawing over the fireplace in the main living room.

Over time the whole house ended up like a piece of art, mosaic flooring, walls and even the ceilings were covered with his work and all in representation of the individuals and the lives they were leading there to the point Cocteau nicknamed the villa “the tattooed house".

Here it seemed Cocteau was able to experiment with his art (it didn’t hurt to have the financial backing of Francine either); he even directed a film at this location titled, “La Villa Santo-Sospir”.

Over the years many famous notables such as: Marlene Dietrich came by (who ignored Francine on visits and only spoke with Jean), along with Greta Garbo (who apparently said very little), to Coco Chanel (drinking companions) and even Pablo Picasso was a regular visitor. 

When I was being shown around, I was told that during one of the big parties in the villa, Picasso was upset that Jean Cocteau was allowed to do his art work all over the house and he thought he should be given areas to do as well, so he took it upon himself to start with the fronts and backs of the doors, also leaving behind some of his ceramic pieces as well.

That story was tame, but there are many fascinating stories about sex and drugs to go with living a life of leisure in the villa, but I don’t want to divulge all the intriguing details and secrets, just to suggest if you are in the French Riviera, Villa Santo Sospir is well worth the visit.

From my understanding Eric doesn’t take huge groups on a tour of the villa, which is a good thing.  I would advise you to let Eric set up an appointment for you ahead of time.  This is a very special, private tour, don’t expect to just show up at the estate (which is protected) and be let in.

Meeting with Eric is a story within itself, he is very generous, caring and will make sure you have the best visit.  He can be contacted for visits to the villa through the website link provided:

Villa Santo Sospir

Once you step inside the gates of the private estate Villa Santo Sospir on Cap Ferrat, you'll be embarking upon a very unique lesson in art history.

Experience The French Riviera!

As frequent visitors can tell by this website, nothing makes me happier than to let others know about the French Riviera.

Since I commute between North America and the French Riviera at different times throughout the year, I am consistently asked for advice from people around the world (gay and straight) what they can expect if they were to travel to the French Riviera and could I utilize my contacts to help them plan out their trips.

This happens with such regularity that with word getting out, businesses have also started asking me to do their travel planning for them.

I have also noticed that the people who I have been guiding would be so appreciative with everything once they arrived to the region that I was getting positive feedback not only during their trips, but also when they got back home.

With what seems like a natural progression, people have been suggesting that I should turn my passion into a business, and so over the past six months I have developed and fully started my new business venture...Experience The French Riviera!

Experience The French Riviera

Twitter: @ExperienceFR

Facebook: Experience The French Rivera

Experience The French Riviera is dedicated to you, the traveler, the one who wants to explore and experience everything you can about the French Riviera.

Everybody wants to make their vacations special, and with proper planning there should be no reason not to have a most memorable trip.

With over 20 years’ experience both visiting and living in various parts of the French Riviera, I have amassed a large list of personal referrals who are also considered friends.

These friends are the top people in their careers, they also share the same love I have for the region and would want you to have the best time possible so that you may have many return visits.

With your interests in mind, I will help design for you a trip of a lifetime.  I am known for my attention to detail and scheduling techniques.  And through my diverse group of contacts I can connect you with anything from camping around the region to chartering a fully-staffed luxury yacht out of Monaco.

Quite simply, I want to maximize and expand on your experiences in the French Riviera.

Although Gay French Riviera has a lot of information that I will continue to contribute too, there is still that everyday intricate information a traveler might not be able to find online.

With my insider knowledge, I can save you time, money, and offer honest advice on what best suits your lifestyle.

If you are interested in visiting the French Riviera, please feel free to contact me through the Experience The French Riviera website link above!

Thank you!

Cap d'Antibes Coastal Trail

The Cap d’Antibes coastal trail or otherwise known as, “Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d’Antibes” on the very tip of the Antibes peninsula is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon exploring more of the beautiful landscape in Cap d'Antibes.

Before you start on this hike…and it is considered more of hike than a walk, plan to spend 2-3 hours around the cape and it will require you wear proper footwear.  Beach sandals will not do.

There are no shortcuts or stores so bring enough water and food with you and depending on the time of year be prepared for some strong winds.

There are a few ways to hike this coastal trail, if it is your first time I would suggest starting from the popular Garoupe Beach, just look for signs on the south side of the beach where a wide stone path leads the way.

At first you might think this is going to be easy, but before you know it you are climbing small sets of narrow man-made stairs while teetering on the edge of the sea so be sure to make use of the hand rails provided in certain sections.

It’s all part of the adventure though and very scenic, you’ll find yourself stopping along the way, not necessarily to take a rest as it isn’t that strenuous of a trail but to take in the surroundings and photos.

I’m not normally one to pay attention to various types of vegetation but even among the sections of rocky terrain you’ll notice much of this area is still a very natural environment with loads of greenery, there are plenty of maritime pines mixed with the sweetest fragrances coming from the little flowers growing between the rocks squeezed amongst large exotic plants.

Just when you think you are getting used to the trail, you’ll walk around a corner where the views and character of the trail changes again.

The one thing that is consistent is that you are hiking next to some of the most expensive and exclusive estates in the world, they are very well protected with high stone walls and security cameras but every once in a while you will catch a glimpse inside the grounds of the majestic homes and peaceful looking gardens.

Being surrounded by such lush and dramatic scenery, it’s easy to see why one would want to have a home here.

One of the reasons I like to start at Garoupe Beach is because following the coastal trail this way will also take you towards the historic Villa Eilenroc with the grounds being open to the public for a good portion of the year, this exquisite property feels like a treat after hiking for an hour or so.

Just look for the trail signs marked “Chemin des Contrebandiers” (smugglers path), they will lead you to the Villa Eilenroc estate.

After you leave the grounds, you can continue to walk around the outside of the estate, the views in this location are some of the best.  In places you can see all the way to Cannes and if you wanted, this is where you can go for a swim at the small beach to cool down before proceeding back along the trail.

From here your choice will be to head back along the trail the same way you came or you can head towards the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc which is practically next door to Villa Eilenroc and carry on through Cap d’Antibes.

Whichever way you decide, you won’t regret taking the time to hike along the Cap d’Antibes Coastal Trail!