About Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Originally occupied by Celto-Liguian tribes and then Lombards, by the 8th century the peninsula was inhabited by the Saracens who used it as a base for pirating for the next five centuries. At the end of the 14th century, along with Nice, the peninsula was given to the Dukes of Savoy and only came under French control at the beginning of the 18th century after being invaded by the army of Louis XIV, though soon after it came under the control of Sardinia, finally becoming part of France after the 1860 Treaty of Turin. Thereafter, the town of St-Jean began to grow and prosper, with a number of prominent people, including Marnier-Postelle of the Grand Marnier dynasty and King Leopold II of Belgium creating estates on the peninsula.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is not so mucha place to see as a place to be and many of the buildings in and around the town are some of the most expensive in the world. More recent residents to the area include the composer Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and the co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, who occupies Villa Maryland. The area is also renowned for the excesses of the ‘Belle Époque era at the turn of the twentieth century which has left a legacy of some of the most sumptuous buildings on the Riviera, including Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild which has seven individual gardens and the Grand Hotel. Marnier-Postelle is also responsible for the creation of ‘Les Cedres’ botanical garden, while the lighthouse at the tip of the Cap was built by Napoleon III.

Owing to the proximity of both Nice and Monaco, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is not renowned for an exuberant nightlife or a stream of fairs and festivals throughout the year, but instead offers quiet surroundings to relax and enjoy the more natural gifts of the Mediterranean and Cote d’Azur. The social highlight of the year is Les Azuriales Opera Festival, inaugurated in 1997 and which takes place in the Villa Ephrussi, while throughout the year the predominant pastime and centre of most activity revolves around the marina and a number of yachting events.

Le Cap is the premier restaurant in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, holding one Michelin star and with a menu whose prices range from €158.00 - €390.00. However, there are also restaurants such as Le pirate, Capitaine Cook and Equinoxe whose prices start from €26.00 A selection from the local menus reflects the Mediterranean nature of the local cuisine, with dishes such as escalope de mérou or sea bass with lime, salmon steak with truffles and estouffade de sanglier which is a wild boar dish.