Cap Ferrat

Visit Cap Ferrat, Provence

Cap Ferrat is a peninsula into the Mediterranean just south of Villefranche-sur-Mer and close to Nice, on the French riviera, and is part of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. A great deal of the peninsula is home to the very wealthy, although as you explore you will see little more of the luxury villas than closed entrance gates and high hedges.

Cap Ferrat coast walk

The coast however is open to visitors, and a very lovely walk follows around the coast for about seven kilometres. Hikers usually start at either the beach at Passable (on the north-west of the peninsula) or the port in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (on the north-east).

With the sea to one side and gardens and forested slopes to the other, at the southern end of Cap Ferrrat you will pass a lighthouse (the lighhouse was built in 1951 to replace a 19th century lighthouse here that was destroyed during the Second World War) and the Grand Hotel, surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Other activities and sights

Apart from walking along the coast and strolling around the harbour there are two other main reasons why visitors come to Cap Ferrat:

The first is the zoo and extensive parkland surrounding Les Cedres, the original villa to be built on the island (by King Leopold II) where hundreds of animals live in a semi-tropical environment.

The second is the Musee Ephrussi de Rothschild. Stunning even among the other villas in the area, the Villa of Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (the 'Villa Ile de France') was built in the early part of the 20th century. The villa itself is very lovely, both outside in the meticulously maintained gardens (separated into several parts, each with a different theme) and in the lavish interior where there are an extraordinary number of items of art and furniture.

You can also see the Chapel Saint-Hospice, dating in part from the 12th century, and the adjacent large bronze statue of the Virgin Mary (added in the early 20th century) and small Belgian war cemetery. Another religious monument at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is the brightly painted little Church of Saint John the Baptist.

Note: apparently current residents of the island include Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft). Be sure to dress nicely if either invites you to lunch when you visit Cap Ferrat.

Suggested places to visit near Cap Ferrat, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Peillon 11km; Roquebrune-Cap-Martin 14km; Gorbio 15km; Cagnes-sur-Mer 15km; Sainte-Agnes 17km; Menton 17km; Saint-Paul-de-Vence 17km; Vence 18km; Biot 20km; Antibes 20km; Coaraze 20km; Juan-les-Pins 22km; Cap d'Antibes 22km; Tourrettes-sur-Loup 22km; Sospel 24km; Valmasque Parc 26km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Cap Ferrat

Cap Ferrat tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild - remarkable garden (2km) : Jardin botanique - remarkable garden (6km) : Tete de Chien - site of natural beauty (8km) : La citronneraie - remarkable garden (17km) : Serre de la Madone - remarkable garden (17km) : Baou de Saint-Jeannet - site of natural beauty (17km) : Palais Carnolès - remarkable garden (17km) : Jardin botanique de la villa Thuret - remarkable garden (20km) :

French version: see Cap Ferrat (Francais)