BEAUSOLEIL
Why visit Beausoleil
Beausoleil will surprise you. It's name doesn't hold much caché abroad or with foreign visitors to the Cote d'Azur. It is jus a small Fench town whose name is seldom mentioned in the same breath as the Riviera greats; Cap Ferrat, Villefranche, St Jean. Which is why it will surprise you with it's pretty streets, beautiful Belle Epoch architecture and lofty staircases mounting it's heights.
The back door into Monaco, it is often overlooked which is a shame as it has all the glitter that Monaco has to offer on its doorstep, sweeping sea views from many of the properties found there and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere about it's neighbourhoods.
| Beausoleil is a French town, in France but it's connection to Monaco is more than just a question of proximity. It's entire existence was born out of a need within the Principality and consequences of conditions across the border in Italy.
The area, that is now Beausoleil used to be part of the commune of La Turbie and was know as the 'La Basse Turbie'.
It was a sparsely populated area, mostly used for agriculture and farming purposes, until 1858 when dramatic changes meant that, for the next 50 years, there would be a huge influx into the area and a new town would spring up.
Monaco was in full bloom at this time. The Société des Bain de Mer was created that was to oversee the growth and development of Monte Carlo as a resort town.
The famous Casino was being built as were the areas of Condamine and La Spelugues. Monaco was a building boom town and needed as many workers as were available.
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Desparate TimesThis building boom coincided with a much less convivial time across the border in Italy. Piedmont, across the border in Italy, was suffering. Incredible poverty, illness and starvation was driving the people to seek survival elsewhere. Cholera was sweeping the town of Cuneo, people were desparate to leave and Monte Carlo was looking for workers.
It was a perfect solution. The railway line was being extended into the Principality in 1866 and required the removal of 25,000 cubic metres of material to be excavated from the route. The building works in Monaco included 170 new villas between 1868 and 1869 alone. There were 18 hotels by 1870, 80 buildings and countless more villas as the wealthy tourists took to Monte Carlo as a Winter resort by their droves.
The Piedmontese, fleeing their own kind of misery, were more than happy to fill the roles. They took up residence close to their new place of work and a small immigrant village began to form.
| Contrasting circumstances |
| The displaced Piedmontese, staying close to the work, began to put up their own residences. The township of Carnier was born. This area quickly spread to the formation of Monaghetti and other small settlements that now make up the town of Beausoleil.
The Monaco building boom, and subsequent development outwards from the Principality, was in stark contrast to the fortunes of the Turbiasques and other local French inhabitants.
The olive industry was in crisis. A labour intensive and uneconomic industry it was proving more and more difficult to make a living. The young men and women were leaving for work in the cities and the land was slowly but surely losing it's value and attraction.
Savvy landowners saw the emergence of these new settlements and the growth in Monaco as an opportunity and turned their attentions to real estate rather than olive farming. |
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| | The Piedmontese, growing wealthy from an abundance of work, brought with them their culture, their way of life and their traditions. They build homes, bars, restaurants and bring with them their Italian heritage.
It was no poor ghetto town and the division between the communes was growing more apparent. La Turbie itself, an ancient town with roots in Roman times, was a serious culture to contend with and things could not continue. |
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Division of a communeThe area known as 'Basse Turbie', despite it's growth and development, had no representatives on the town council. They felt that their needs were not being met, in particular with regards to health, sanitation and schools. A split between the communes was looming and the man who was going to smooth this transtion was on the road to becoming elected into the position of Mayor.
Camille Blanc was born in Paris in 1846 although his family roots lay in the South of France. A successful business man he took over the reigns of the Société des Bains de Mer and played a significant part in the develoment of Monaco. In the early 1900's he campagned to improve the wealth of La Turbie and conditions for the 'low area' of the commune.
In 1904 he instigated the separation of the two towns into independent communes and, following several years of negotiation over property and rights, the new commune of Beausoliel was born. Camille Blanc was elected Mayor of the new commune and a new town council was established. Beausoleil was finally on the map.
Renting holiday lets in Beausoleil
Beausoleil grew up around the beautiful Belle Epoch era of development. The luxury villas and apartments that fill the streets are some of the prime examples of this type of architecture. To see holiday rentals and vacation villas to rent then please use the search facility below or click on 'Browse Rentals' in the main menu.
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Some of our vacation rentals in Beausoleil |
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Elegant studio that is perfect for all events in Monaco and Monte Carlo. It is in a completely new building which is...
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Bijou 1 bedroom apartment with a balcony and captivating sea views. This apartment is in a new building and benefits...
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This is the ideal low cost option for Monte Carlo, this spacious studio apartment is the perfect place to stay for a...
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Find your vacation rental in Beausoleil |
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