Château Saint-Jean, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: the history of a Venetian neo-Gothic waterfront estate on Saint-Hospice
The Château Saint-Jean is one of the most remarkable historic estates on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Built in 1899 in a Venetian neo-Gothic style, with its own park and private harbour, it stands in the centre of the village of Saint-Jean, at the very beginning of the Saint-Hospice peninsula, one of the most sought-after parts of Cap Ferrat.
Cap Ferrat at the turn of the 20th century
After the County of Nice became part of France in 1860, the Cap Ferrat peninsula began to attract royalty and wealthy families from across Europe. From 1889, King Leopold II of Belgium bought land on the peninsula, eventually owning more than 50 hectares on its western side. Grand villas and estates were built across the Cap in the years that followed, many of which still stand today.
1899: the Château Wedekind
In 1899, the Italian-German banker Carlo Wedekind chose the start of the Saint-Hospice peninsula to build a residence bearing his name. He commissioned the architect Charles Bermond, who designed a Venetian neo-Gothic villa with a richly decorated façade, set in grounds of around one hectare.
A spectacular interior
The château was designed to impress. Its main features included:
- A vast hall of around 200 m², lit by a glass canopy
- Painted ceilings and marble columns
- Marble staircases with fine sculptures
- Large stained-glass windows
- A bathroom with a sunken bath 1.6 metres deep and 3 metres across, almost like a small swimming pool, which was highly unusual at the time
Park, lake and private harbour
The grounds were planted with lush vegetation and included an ornamental lake. The park runs down to a private harbour with a boathouse, above which an apartment was built for staff.
1909: the Château Saint-Jean
In 1909, the villa was sold to the Hungarian princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy, who renamed it Château Saint-Jean, the name it still bears today. The estate later belonged to the American Gloria Thompson.
Saint-Hospice today
The Château Saint-Jean is located in the centre of Saint-Jean, where the Saint-Hospice peninsula begins, on the eastern side of Cap Ferrat. Its position combines the village's port, restaurants and shops on the doorstep with the calm of Saint-Hospice. Saint-Hospice is one of the most sought-after areas of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, known for its waterfront villas, its quiet setting and its views over the Mediterranean towards Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Monaco. The Pointe Saint-Hospice, at its tip, is home to the Saint-Hospice chapel and the site of a fort built in 1561 by Duke Emmanuel-Philibert of Savoy.
Today, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is one of the most exclusive residential areas in the world. Its villas range from Belle Époque estates like the Château Saint-Jean to contemporary homes, many with sea views and direct access to the water.