Located within the municipality of Antibes, Cap d'Antibes is a wooded peninsula spanning 3.7 square kilometres (1.4 square miles) and is famous the world over for its many luxurious villas nestled in lush vegetation. Antibes expanded towards its cape in tandem with the creation, in 1882, of the seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins, which went on to become the first large fashionable summer destination with the birth of the French Riviera. Legend has it that the location of Juan-les-Pins was discovered by the Duke of Albany, son of Queen Victoria…
After the First World War, during the Roaring Twenties, American billionaire Frank-Jay Gould, son of the railroad magnate, teamed up with French developer Edouard Baudoin to buy the old seaside casino and turn it into one of the finest on the French Riviera. British aristocrats and Russian émigrés flocked to these pristine pine forests and idyllic beaches to build villas, each more stunning than the last. This exciting new destination was hailed by artists, stars and royalty alike: Charlie Chaplin, Rita Hayworth, Walt Disney, Marlène Dietrich and Pablo Picasso soon became regular visitors to Cap d’Antibes. As did F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was inspired to write his wonderful novel Tender is the Night while living here.
Ideally situated between Cannes and Nice Côte-d’Azur International Airport, Cap d’Antibes firmly holds the limelight each year during the Cannes Film Festival, playing host to its most glamorous parties. These include the amfAR Gala, traditionally held at the ultra-select Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, attracting some of the world’s leading international stars who wouldn’t dream of missing this big event.
Those who rent a villa or apartment on Cap d’Antibes relish its unique social and cultural life, unlike any other in France. An annual highlight is Jazz à Juan, the Antibes Juan-les-Pins jazz festival that takes place each July. Held for the first time in 1960, its inaugural line-up included legends such as Charlie Mingus, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Talk about setting the bar high! And so Juan-les-Pins became part of the Riviera legend, with American stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, James Brown, Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson performing over the years. Not to mention French artists such as Claude Nougaro, Stéphane Grappelli, Michel Legrand and Claude Luter!
Even after all these years, Cap d’Antibes has lost none of its splendour. Au contraire! Some of the world’s very wealthiest people still own properties here, often in discreet enclaves away from prying eyes. The sumptuous Belle Époque villas, châteaux and Hollywood-style residences overlook a breathtaking unspoilt coastline that can be explored via the famous “Sentier des Douaniers” coastal trail - nicknamed “Chemin de Tirepoil”, which translates literally as “hair-pull trail”, after the sea wind that messes with visitors' hair! Nature has adapted to this spectacular, rocky headland, as illustrated by the picture-postcard views which greet walkers all year round.
Last but not least, those who rent on Cap d’Antibes relish the art de vivre of Antibes, with its old town surrounded by sixteenth-century ramparts which remains vibrant all year round, and its port which has long provided moorings for luxury yachts hailing from all over the world. And no description would be complete without a mention of the 25-kilometre (16-mile) jealously preserved coastline dotted with fine sandy beaches and secluded coves around Antibes and the Cap... their reputation is well-deserved!
A legendary destination on the French Riviera, Cap d’Antibes and its surroundings offer an exclusive setting for luxury villa rentals. From private beaches to pine-shaded estates, this iconic peninsula attracts a discerning clientele. Discover our high-end properties available for rent in the heart of Cap d’Antibes, where elegance meets Mediterranean charm.
