The
aerial photograph media including the graphic image above was
originally purchased by this author from Institut Géographique National
and may not be reproduced without purchasing the same media from IGN.
From
left to right, one can see the deep water port of Villefranche-sur-Mer
(population about 7,500) and the village on both sides of the Basse
Corniche cascading down the hills to the Port. Cap Ferrat is at the
center. Beaulieu-sur-Mer (about 4,500) is to the upper right.
Cap
Ferrat (about 2,250 St. Jeannois) is about 3100 meters long and about
600 meters wide on average. It is a small exclusive enclave of about
445 villas, very few of which rent. Some are very famous.
There
is no single publication which enables one to trace the history of the
various villas on Cap Ferrat. However, it is safe to say that ownership
of any one of these villas is an exclusive club. Some are famous. Some
are infamous. Nor will the Mayor's office provide the curious and
inquisitive tourists with ownership and or address information.
Very
few villas rent by the week. In High Season (June 15 to September15),
the majority of those villa properties which do rent are booked
one-year or more in advance. Many of the villas are under caretaker
surveillance and security patrols for their idle months. In many
instances, the same families who are able to rent will return to the
same villa in successive years. The same is true for the best rental
apartments. They are also limited in quantity.
No one agency
controls all the rental villas or apartments. Some villa and apartment
do their own "do diligence" on prospective clients. However, in the
main, that "due diligence" will be managed by others.
High
Season villa monthly rental rates vary by the same criteria as the
apartments. Those with the highest levels of security, location, views,
amenities and ambiance command the highest rental rates. The primary
criteria is the number of bedrooms and baths. Next is the degree of
excellence of the view of the mountains and sea.
Next is the
consideration of a pool. Some owners will not rent to families with
small children because France has not yet enforced "fencing" of private
pools.
It pays to do considerable homework of one's own before
signing a villa contract. The same is true for an apartment. However,
the sums involved with booking a villa involves large deposits, some of
which are not refundable and some of which are partially refundable.
However, the French Riviera, particularly Monte Carlo, is, to quote
Somerset Maugham who lived part of his life on Cap Ferrat, "a very
sunny place for some very shady people."
On-site agencies are
very reputable. Many of them are secord or third generation families
who have managed Cap Ferrat properties for decades. However, for the
nouveaux to the Cap, it is best to learn the rules before jumping into
the pool.
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