La Maison Moderne
Cap d'Antibes, southern France
A stylish villa with a cool pool on the magical Cap d’Antibes, close to Keller Beach (sleeps 6-8)
The Cap may be tiny, but here is proof that small is beautiful. The
dreamy pine-clad peninsular separates Antibes from Juan-Les-Pins
and ticks to a slower beat than the rest of the Côte
d’Azur. It was developed by European nobility in the 19th
century, painted by Monet and Picasso, then colonised by film
stars, who made it their summer playground. It retains a feel for
its own past and occasionally you get the impression you’re
walking through a Jean-Luc Goddard movie. Those looking for a taste
of the old Riviera will love it.
This white modernist villa makes a great base. You can walk down to
the boulangerie or up to the butcher; laze by the pool and
top up your tan; potter off to La Garoupe for lunch on Keller
beach; or climb up the hill to the Cap’s totemic lighthouse
for fine views east and west. Contemporary simplicity is the virtue
within. Stylish rooms come in white, there are terraces
galore, a decked pool shaded by palm trees and a fancy kitchen with
all the kit. Brilliant.
Reviewed by Tom Bell
Last updated 16 May 2012
Highs
- The Cap itself, one of the loveliest spots on the Riviera
- This is a cool villa, a great place for a week in the sun
- The beautiful, airy sitting room that opens onto a dining terrace
- The decked pool, which shimmers at the foot of palm trees
- The Mediterranean gardens, planted with olive trees, yuccas, lavender and grasses
- Lunch on Keller Beach, one of the Cap’s great pleasures
Lows
- Bedrooms don’t have the wow factor of a fancy hotel… but this a villa, not a hotel
- Real estate on the Cap is vastly expensive and the house, like most others, doesn’t come with much land
- There are few shops within walking distance; you’ll have to head into town for groceries
- You’ll need a car to get here, but you won’t use it much; people on the Cap tend not to stray far
