Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is an early 20th century seaside villa on the Cap-Ferrat peninsula at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. It was built for Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild and is notable for its extensive formal gardens and decorative arts collection.

The estate is best known for its nine themed gardens laid out on terraces, including a French parterre, rose garden and a Japanese garden, plus fountains and a large reflecting basin. The villa’s facades and terraces provide framed views across the Mediterranean and nearby bays.

Inside the house, visitors see period interiors and a collection of furniture, porcelain, tapestries and paintings assembled by the founder, displayed across multiple salons and galleries. Guided visits and garden walks are the main activities offered on site.

The villa was commissioned and furnished by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild in the early 20th century and completed during her lifetime. On her death the property was bequeathed to the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Institut de France) and it has been operated as a museum and public garden since then.

The property sits on the eastern side of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France, roughly east of Nice. It occupies a promontory above the sea with coastal views and formal terraces overlooking nearby bays.

• Gardens: Contain nine distinct themed gardens laid out on successive terraces, with the best floral displays from late spring into early summer.
• Ownership: The villa was bequeathed to the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Institut de France) by its founder and is open to the public as a house-museum and garden complex.

What to See #

• Main villa: Contains the main house with period rooms, decorative arts and a collection assembled by the villa's founder; interiors show early 20th century aristocratic taste across multiple salons and galleries.
• Nine themed gardens: Arranged as nine themed gardens on terraces with ornamental pools, fountains and parterres; notable themes include a French garden, a rose garden and a Japanese garden.
• Terraces and water basin: Lower terraces and the large reflecting basin that sit on the seaward side of the property and offer framed views over the Mediterranean from the villa forecourt.