Visit Villa Kérylos for a Touch of Greece on the Côte d’Azur

Once a private residence to the east of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and near Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Villa Kérylos sits prominently on a rocky outcrop with a panoramic visit. Kérylos is a Greek word for a kingfisher bird and an omen of good luck.

Villa Kérylos History

Théodore Reinach commissioned the construction of a seaside mansion, engaging architect Emmanuel Pontremoli to execute his vision for a Greek-style home in this location. Reinach was an archaeologist whose passion was Ancient Greece, so he wanted his villa to reflect the grace of that period with modern comforts. Built between 1902 and 1908, Villa Kérylos is elegant, with décor that we might imagine in luxurious Greek homes. Reinach’s wife, Fanny (nee Kann), was cousins with Maurice Ephrussi, who married Béatrice de Rothchild, the owner of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild constructed in roughly the same period.

France, Alpes Maritimes (06), Beaulieu sur Mer, villa Kerylos de style neo-grec de 1908 par architecte Emmanuel Pontremoli ©CRT Côte d’Azur, France – Camille MOIRENC

Villa Kérylos Architecture

Villa Kérylos rises three stories from its foundations like a white wedding cake overlooking Baie des Fourmis. The exterior includes a small but quite formal garden. In contrast, the interior is ornate, adorned with marble columns and frescos depicting Greek motifs, statues, and sunken baths. Commissioned replicas of luxurious Greek furnishings, fabrics, and tapestries are throughout the home. Sadly, Théodore Reinach spent much of the family’s fortune on his folly and died in 1928 after the villa’s completion.

© Colombe Clier / Centre des
monuments nationaux – Photo de presse.

Prepare for your Visit

Following his death, the Villa Kérylos was donated to the Institute de France and, in 1966, named a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture. Today, Centres des Monuments Nationaux manages and maintains the property open for public viewing all year. The visit takes about an hour, and a small gift shop is on site.

Villa Kerylos (website)
Rue Gustave Eiffel
06310 Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Telephone: +33 (0)4 93 01 01 44
Buy your tickets online in advance.

© Colombe Clier / Centre des
monuments nationaux – Photo de presse.

Where to Stay Nearby

Chez Nous is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom penthouse apartment on a quiet pedestrian street called Baron de Bres – Villefranche’s garden street. It is located in the heart of Old Town Villefranche-sur-Mer and steps from the waterfront. This holiday rental has panoramic 180-degree views of the entire bay and Cap Ferrat from the living space, dining, kitchen, and balcony. The sea appears a stone’s throw away.

Le Beau Balcon is a one-bedroom holiday apartment on Rue Volti, a pedestrian street in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The building, located in the old town, is a short walk to everything; the charming Place de la Paix, the beach, and the waterfront quay. The 600-year-old building overlooks the bay and pedestrian-friendly Rue de May.

Located on Villefranche’s shoreline, the Waterfront Penthouse is so close that you can see fish swimming while you sit on the balcony. This 2-bedroom, 2-bath holiday rental has a panoramic view of the sea, Cap Ferrat and the stunning cliffs of Villefranche. This building is one of the most photographed in Villefranche, appearing on postcards, paintings, and books about the area.