A timeless villa with a terrace, a small garden and sea views,
just a few minutes from Monaco and Cap Martin
just a few minutes from Monaco and Cap Martin
Nice,
ALPES-MARITIMES
provence-cote-dazur
06000
FR
Location
Situated in the south-east of the Alpes Maritimes, Roquebrune, a small town comprising the famous Cap Martin next to Monaco, enjoys the immediate proximity of the principality and of the Cap beaches. Named after the "Roche brune" (brown rock), it is crowned by a 10th-century keep, the oldest in France, set high in a mountainous cirque dominated by the Mont Agel.
The property stands on a hillside with a direct view of the sea. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in an historic area, it enjoys total peace and quiet despite its proximity to major arterial roads, notably the A8 motorway. By car, Monaco is just 15 minutes away, Menton 9 minutes and Nice-Côte d'Azur airport 54 minutes. The TER regional train line serving Roquebrune station connects to Ventimiglia in 20 minutes, to Nice in 30 minutes and to Marseille in 3 hours 20 minutes.
Description
The property sits on a small plot of gently sloping land planted with trees, bordered by a dry-stone wall at the back and overlooking other buildings located below to the south, with sweeping views of the coastline, its beaches and rocks.
Built in the 1990s, this modern extension to a small, old stone house, of which one room remains, stands on a large, paved terrace bordered by a balustrade. Capitalising on the sloping ground, the terrace sits above lock-up garages on the ground floor, which are directly accessed from the alleyway that runs along the lower part of the property.
Behind a gate, a stone staircase also links the terrace to the narrow lane.
The two-storey villa has a rectangular floor plan and features wide, regular openings to the surrounding grounds, mainly patio doors on the ground floor and windows on the first floor. The sober and smooth walls are rendered in a light colour and topped by a tiled roof with an overhanging double cornice. The white-painted window surrounds bring out the soft beige of the rendered walls and the grey of the shutters that enliven the facades.
The original house, of which only one bedroom on the garden level has been preserved, has been restored and enlarged using the same materials in various other parts of the building, thus creating a sober, functional villa. The result is a bright, airy residence that can be adapted to suit any interior decor. Finally, the house's technical installations enhance the comfort of its inhabitants, in particular the integrated heating and air-conditioning system, which ensures that the villa is pleasant to live in all year round.
Built in the 1990s, this modern extension to a small, old stone house, of which one room remains, stands on a large, paved terrace bordered by a balustrade. Capitalising on the sloping ground, the terrace sits above lock-up garages on the ground floor, which are directly accessed from the alleyway that runs along the lower part of the property.
Behind a gate, a stone staircase also links the terrace to the narrow lane.
The two-storey villa has a rectangular floor plan and features wide, regular openings to the surrounding grounds, mainly patio doors on the ground floor and windows on the first floor. The sober and smooth walls are rendered in a light colour and topped by a tiled roof with an overhanging double cornice. The white-painted window surrounds bring out the soft beige of the rendered walls and the grey of the shutters that enliven the facades.
The original house, of which only one bedroom on the garden level has been preserved, has been restored and enlarged using the same materials in various other parts of the building, thus creating a sober, functional villa. The result is a bright, airy residence that can be adapted to suit any interior decor. Finally, the house's technical installations enhance the comfort of its inhabitants, in particular the integrated heating and air-conditioning system, which ensures that the villa is pleasant to live in all year round.
The villa
The garden-level floor
The living areas, located on the first level of the house, can be accessed directly from the terrace via several patio doors. A flight of steps leads from the street to the terrace and the main entrance of the villa. The well-sized terrace, paved with light-coloured limestone of irregular shapes, is protected on the east side by a wrought iron pergola with a roll-up awning that provides welcome shade during the summer months.
A large living room extends over the main part of this storey. It is divided into two parts, separated by a dining area that extends into an open-plan kitchen, set in a recess to the north. The interior volumes, like the exterior spaces, are sober and bright. To the right of the living room, in the eastern part of the villa, the master bedroom and its adjoining bathroom take up the floor area of the old cottage. Their dry-stone walls contrast with the rest of the villa. All the floors are tiled except for that of the bedroom, which has hardwood flooring; the ceilings and walls are white with a smooth finish. An integrated reversible air-conditioning system provides year-round thermal comfort in all rooms, with discreet air vents positioned here and there.
The upstairs
There are three different accesses to the second storey: a light-coloured wooden staircase from the living room, and two independent entrances directly from the outside: the first via a staircase that extends from the one leading to the terrace, and the second via another terrace that connects to the garden at the back of the house. This level comprises two bedrooms with hardwood floors, sharing a central shower room. All rooms are lit by large windows or double patio doors.
The garden
Backing onto a stone wall at the rear of the villa, the lawned garden dotted with trees forms an exterior space that contrasts with the mineral atmosphere of the terrace and facade at the front of the house. It is reached using an outdoor staircase, an extension of the one leading from the alleyway to the terrace, and/or from the upstairs bedrooms, each featuring glass doors opening onto the garden. Although modest in size, it provides a shady green space in summer, where one can enjoy the plumbago flowers or fruit from the lemon tree. There is an old stone shed in the north-east corner, which provides storage space for garden equipment and furniture.
The garage(s) for sale or rent
There is the option of renting or buying one or two closed garages located under the villa's terrace, with direct access from the alleyway.
Our opinion
This property enjoys a rare degree of tranquillity in the highly urbanised environment of the area and offers a timelessly sober living space pleasant whatever the season. Its architectural design, focused on outdoor spaces facing the coast, ensures comfortable interior volumes. The simple alterations to the overall structure, which is in excellent condition, leave plenty of scope for the future inhabitants to make their own aesthetic choices and implement their personal decorating and furnishing ideas. The various rooms on the garden level open onto a large south-facing terrace. Upstairs, bedrooms with independent access and terraces boast stunning views of the sea and Cap Martin. A successful combination of perspective and minimalist design.
999 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 661077
| Land registry surface area | 350 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 114 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 15 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
