Any discovery of a treasure hidden in plain sight brings an epic delight.
And also the nagging inner voice “How come you have missed it for so long?”.
Take for example the visitors to the French Riviera. Even the regular tourists blissfully miss the Riviera’s bijou called the village of Saint- Joan- Cap – Ferrat.
The reason is definitely not logistical. Cap-Ferrat is a natural peninsula on the French Riviera only 10 km away from Nice and 18 km from Monaco.
A taxi driver from Nice airport can reach a hotel in Cap-Ferrat in 30 min.
There are trains, buses and boats available during throughout the year.
Fortunately, Cap-Ferrat’s unpopularity with mass tourism helps to preserve its natural and created beauty.
Uncrowded beaches, picturesque coves, spectacular views towards the neighbouring bays of Villefranche-sur-mer and Beaulieu-sur-mer and hiking costal paths form a part of the resort’s charms.
The climate remains mild all year round, with very little rain in the summer and relatively warm winters.
The steep elevation from the sea to the Alps mountains shelters the cape from the strong Mistral wind.
The French movie “Chocolat”with the famous actors Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp presented the arrival of the Mistral as symbolising a mysterious longing for something. Metaphorically or not, experiencing the Mistral wind in Cap-Ferrat is unforgettable.
The peninsula is build on dry rocks with limited fresh water.
The water supply problem was resolved in the late 19th century.
This improvement encouraged the planting of olive threes, pine woods and subtropical plantations of palm trees, Hibiscus and Jacarandas.
All the flora remains man-made.
The history of the peninsula unfolds as dramatic as its landscape.
From a humble fishing village Saint-Jean- Cap-Ferrat became a magnet for the reach and royalty.
The town has ancient roots. In the 6th century a hermit monk from Egypt called Hospitals lived in a ruined tower on the peninsula and in his honour the cape was named Cap-Saint Hospice.
From the 14th century, the county of Nice, including Cap-Ferrat came under the House of Savoy.
In 1860 France annexed it.
A pivotal moment for the Cap Ferrat community was the arrival of King Leopold II of Belgium who bought a large estate on the peninsula, built luxury villas and constructed beautiful gardens .
The beautiful Jardin Botanique Les Cedres he created still exists today.
The village of Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat separated from the town of Villefranche-sur-mer in 1904 and adopted the current name Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat in 1907.
In 2012 the prices of real estate in Cap Ferrat were the second most expensive in the world after Monaco.
What sets Cap-Ferrat apart from the other Mediterranean resorts? Without doubt the magnificent nature, the preserved charm, the heritage, the balance between tradition and modernity.
Cap-Ferrat offers authenticity, exclusivity and undeniable charm.
1 Comment
Наистина е бижу публикацията! А снимките са страхотни. Как да не пътуваш до това прекрасно място ? Благодаря за удоволствието!!!