Beausoleil perhaps doesn't enjoy the same prestige as some of the other landmark towns on the French Riveria landscape. It is often overlooked and underrated which is understandable when you consider its glamourous neighbour. Being in the shadow of Monaco's glitzy reputation is a hard act to follow.
The two are intrinsically linked however and Beausoleil's lofty streets quite literally overshadow the Principality. Beausoleil and Monaco share history, they shared builders, architects and street names, they share sea views, mountain paths and pretty panorama's.
In Beausoleil you will find history in it's ancient ruins, architecture, churches, cemeteries and wild hilltop walks. You will find beautiful vistas afforded by its elevation, you'll experience village streetlife with its typical French markets and Italian influences but, perhaps most uniquely, you will find instant and affordable access to the prestige streets of Monte Carlo.
Historical Beausoleil
Beausoleil is famous for its Belle Epoch era architecture. It grew up around the elaborate building projects in Monte Carlo that saw the famous Casino erected and many of the beautiful palaces and villas built for the elite visitors to the Riviera at this time.
With it's own roots in Italian culture it is a pretty and decorated little 'balcony' town with wonderful sea views from many of the streets and apartments.
Belle Epoch Beausoleil
The Belle Epoch era is often referred to on the French Riviera. It represents a golden age of the South of France when life settled down and the heritage for this area really took hold and had a permanent effect. Previously the South of France had been split and unsettled with different tribes giving way to different ruling families from diverse parts of southern Europe from Greek, through Roman to Sardinian, Savoy and Provence.
Wars, frequent invasion and inhospitable terrain made travel dangerous if not impossible. In the late 1800's it all came to settle with newly defined and permanent borders between just two nations, France and Italy.
It became safer to travel and visitors started to arrive. Few in the beginning but increasing as travel journals were published and reports filtered back. Soon the entire worlds aristocracy and royalty were flooding to the area.
Hotels to accommodate these illustrious visitors were quickly built and grand and vast private villas started to appear on the landscape all in a style designed to entice and reassure ones position or status. There was much at stake here and it wasn't necessarily purely a question of comfort that was in mind.
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Hotel de Ville
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The architecture was inspired by the need to demonstrate a greater wealth than that of your neighbour, indeed a countries reputation could rest on it as the King Of Belgium, Russian Tzars and Englands own Royals arrived en masse.
The buildings grew big and ornate but also they also displayed a prettiness that softens the grandeur and has the effect of making them less foreboding. The colours were inspired by the palate of the region and also the frescoes and murals found on Italian villas.
The lasting effect has been to create a beautiful landscape of distinguised residences many of which are to be found in Beausoleil, the grandest of which culminates in the Riviera Palace.
Natural life in Beausoleil
It is easy to forget that Beausoleil is not just confined to the tightly arranged streets that wind up into the hills behind Monaco. It extends right back up into the mountains where you can find a wild and natural world that is largely untamed and, as well as being a stark contrast to the sheen of Monaco and Beausoleil's refinement it also offers an insight into what life might have been like in the generations gone by.
Oppidum du Mont des Mules
Originally Beausoleil was part of the commune of La Turbie and it's land was used mostly for agricultural purposes. Not the great plains of crop farming that you might at first imagine but the mountainside variable of Oleioculture, or Olive farming.
Take a trek up through the streets and out into the hills to see an olive tree more than a thousand years old with a circumference approaching 11metres in width. On the way you'll find ancient Roman trading routes and footpaths, you'll pass 'Le Lavoir', or wash house where the maids collectively washed the communes linens and that of the hotels clientèle.
You'll pass remarkable 'Pont de Vue' over the panoramic landscape, come across the ancient water well of 'Fontaine Fontdivina' and find placards that detail the indigenous plant life that grows happily on the hills here.
Continue the mountain trek to be transported into another era as the footpaths up here are part of the Roman tourist route, 'Via Julia Augusta', named after the adored wife of Emperor Augustus.
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The site, however, pre-dates even Rome's Ceasars as the ancient Oppidum proves. The remains of the hilltop fort, with it's cyclopic walls, was built by the Celto Ligurean tribe in the first millennium sometime around 250 BC.
An orientation map, 291m above sea level, will help you navigatethe magnificent view. It details the historical monuments found in the area and points to far off locations and their distances. You can hardly fail to be impressed by the natural wonder or the breathtaking view laid out at your feet stretching into the Italian coast, dropping down into Monaco's splendour and rising up into the Roman ruins of la Turbie.
Architecture in Beausoleil
Beausoleil has some of the finest examples of the French Riviera's famous Belle Epoch architecture. The town was established at the same time as Monaco was budding into the jewel it is now and spreading it's influence beyond 'the Rock'. Situated in France it is probably a more protected heritage than is to be found in Monaco where the pressures of space, demand and development threaten her original buildings.
Riviera Palace, Beausoleil
The building of the Riviera Palace hotel was overseen by the first Mayor of Beausoleil, Camille Blanc, who was the instigator of Beausoleil's status as an individual commune in the the early 1900's.
Blanc was the president of Monaco Société des Bain de Mer which was the company responsible for much of Monaco's prestige builds, including the Monte Carlo casino.
He was a successful business man, mayor and founder of 'La Société Immobiliére de Monte Carlo Supérieur', an enterprise that owned a string of international prestige hotels, the Orient express and would be responsible for the concept of the Riviera palace hotel.
The architect was Georges Paul Chedanne who had created the grand style hotels on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel tower fame, designed the incredible glass arboretum to protect clients from the occasional inclement winter weather of the French Riviera. The lack of which pointing to the sheer indulgence of such a luxury, shelter from one or two days of mildy bad weather, and therefore added prestige.
Winter Gardens
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Built 180metres above sea level the Riviera Palace hotel had the most exceptional views and, at a time, when sea bathing was not yet a frequent pastime and the season was still very determinedly winter, it's proximity to the coast was of little import.
In it's day it was the height of luxury and was frequented by the wealthiest and most noble of Europe's aristocracy. Today it houses private residences but it is not quite shut off to the public.
The views are panoramic and the architecture is grand in the grandest sense of the word. The hotel no longer operates as a hotel and visits have to be arranged through the tourist office as places are limited but it is worth the effort.
Renting vacation apartments and villas in Beausoleil
If you would like to rent a holiday apartment in Beausoleil or browse vacation rentals then please use the facility below or click on 'Browse Rental' in the main men to see what is available in Beausoleil or in other locations along the French or Italian Riviera.
“A superb apartment in a superb location.”- Riviera Rental Guide
Superb Penthouse apartment with incredible panoramic views overlooking Monaco and Monte Carlo. The low cost luxury apartment for all Monaco business and holidays. This is the perfect apartment for your trip to Monaco.
Lovely 1-bedroom apartment in Beausoleil featuring a sunny, corner terrace with breakfast table and sea views. This is a stunning location just minutes from the chic Principality of Monaco.
A fresh, spacious 2 bedroom apartment with balconies offers wonderful sea views over Monaco and the deep blue Mediterranean sea. Close to shops, markets and Monaco beach and within easy walking distance of all of Monaco.
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