Five Celebrity Villas on the Market in the French Riviera

From the cliffs of Cap de Nice to the pine forests of Antibes and Vallauris, the Côte d’Azur has long been a discreet haven for creativity and glamour. In the Alpes-Maritimes—an endless source of inspiration for painters, writers, and musical icons—five remarkable homes are now awaiting their next chapter.

 

La Carrière – Charles Trenet’s villa in Antibes

Back on the market at €6.6 million through Architecture de Collection, this striking ocean-liner–inspired villa was imagined in 1938 by the 25-year-old “singing madman” himself. Charles Trenet not only purchased the land but also drew up the plans for the house, which his friend Jean Cocteau helped decorate.

Spread across four levels and 347 m², La Carrière sits on 5,580 m² of wooded grounds with a caretaker’s house, amphitheater, and 20-meter pool. The kitchen recalls a ship’s cabin, while a Cocteau portrait of Trenet still presides over the living space. Following the singer’s death in 2001, the property endured a long legal saga before re-emerging for sale.

Sean Connery’s Belle Époque retreat in Nice

Known as Roc Fleuri, this Belle Époque jewel—with terraced gardens, marble balustrades, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean—once belonged to Sean Connery, who lived here during the 1970s and 1980s with his wife Micheline Roquebrune.

Built in the late 19th century, redesigned in 1928 by architect Jean Ferraud, the 1,000 m² villa includes a mahogany elevator, indoor pool, and opulent salons. Now on the market for €23.5 million, it remains one of the Riviera’s most iconic addresses, having since passed through the hands of several international luminaries.

La Gatounière – Simenon and Piaf’s sanctuary in Mougins

Tucked near the old village of Mougins, this Provençal villa with ochre-tiled roofs was once home to Georges Simenon and later Édith Piaf. Built in the 1950s, the 365 m² residence, now offered by Sotheby’s for €2.99 million, requires renovation but carries immense cultural weight.

Here Simenon wrote works such as Maigret Sets a Trap before selling to Piaf in 1963, who sought comfort here during her final months. The home, surrounded by landscaped gardens and a pool, continues to draw international buyers enchanted by its history.

La Rivolte – Ivan Bunin’s haven in Grasse

Perched above the “city of perfumes,” Villa Mont-Fleuri—renamed La Rivolte—became Ivan Bunin’s refuge after fleeing Russia. It was here in Grasse, overlooking the Mediterranean, that the Nobel Prize–winning author penned The Life of Arseniev. Built in 1893, the Belle Époque residence spans 337 m² across 14 rooms, with a pool, sauna, and pétanque court nestled in its gardens. Sotheby’s has listed this literary landmark at €3.4 million.

Petula Clark’s Vallauris escape

Hidden at the end of a private road in Vallauris, this 250 m² villa was once the family holiday home of Petula Clark, whose voice defined the 1960s with hits like Downtown and This Is My Song.

On a 6,000 m² plot featuring a pine forest, vegetable garden, bamboo grove, and infinity pool, the residence includes four bedrooms (one in its own tower), a grand cathedral-style living room, and a separate guest apartment. Sotheby’s is offering it at €1.79 million.

For decades, the Riviera’s relaxed rhythm and natural beauty have lured world-famous figures seeking both privacy and inspiration. While these five homes are now officially available, many more celebrity-owned properties remain quietly “off-market,” adding to the region’s enduring aura of mystery and allure.