Study Trip by Thomas Schubert to Villa Kerylos
It is no secret that the Côte d'Azur stands for exclusivity. But only very few visitors make it to Cap Ferrat with its mighty villa estates in the midst of subtropical gardens. Although a true insider tip is hidden here - the Villa Kerylos.
A villa entirely in the style of a house from Greek antiquity
The Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer is probably one of the most interesting sights in the area. It is a unique showpiece from the early 20th century. The French archaeologist and Hellenist Théodore Reinach and his wife Fanny Kann had the villa built entirely in the style of a house from Greek antiquity. The beauty of the landscape and the nearby, magnificent Villa Ephrussi with its themed gardens complete with sculptures and water features, which was owned by relatives, served as inspiration.
The architect Emmanuel Pontremoli was asked to construct a building that was modelled on the Hellenistic villas built in Delos, but at the same time had to offer every modern comfort. The result is a building whose inner courtyard impresses with wonderful wall paintings and whose interior is furnished according to ancient models. For example, you can see an elegant bathing complex as well as resting beds on which people dined as in ancient Greece.
The location of Villa Kerylos offers a spectacular view over the Mediterranean and gives an idea of how the rich and beautiful lived at the turn of the century. Reinach bequeathed the villa to the Institut de France, of which he was a member. His descendants continued to live in the house until the 1960s. In 1966, it was listed as a monument historique. Today it serves as a museum and is open to visitors.