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Month: May 2023

Henri Matisse’s Niçois haven goes up for sale

by: Elsa Carpenter
26/05/2023
henri matisse

The Belle Époque retreat owned by celebrated artist Henri Matisse has been listed by Sotheby’s International Realty for close to €2.5 million.

This piece of artistic heritage is found in the Excelsior Régina Palace, itself in the heart of the historic Cimiez nieghbourhood of Nice. It was bought by Matisse, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, in 1918 and was his home, on and off, until his death in 1954.  

The 165m2 property has been listed for €2.48 million. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s

The two-bed 165m² apartment also housed his workshop, which, thanks to the south-facing aspect of the property, would have been flooded with the natural light that attracted so many of his contemporary artists to the region.  

There’s further history to the place too. England’s Queen Victoria was said to be dissatisfied with the hotels in the city during one of her many visits. This brought about a stage of vast development in Nice, one part of which was the construction of the Excelsior Régina Palace, which took on the ‘Régina’ section of its name in honour of the long-living monarch.  

henri matisse
The Excelsior Régina Palace is classified as a historical monument. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s

“Its construction was entrusted to the architect Sébastien-Marcel Biasini in 1897 as well as to François-Félix Gordolon for the metal structure as well as the wrought iron. For the crown which overlooks the apartments of Queen Victoria, he was helped by Gustave Eiffel,” reads the listing by Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty. “The Régina stands out in Nice and on the Côte d’Azur for its remarkable architecture, harmoniously combining different artistic styles. In a Belle Époque ensemble, the dominant influence is that of Art Nouveau, with its organic shapes, floral ornaments and curved lines.” 

The building has stood the test of time in an ever-evolving city and is now classified as a historical monument.  

Matisse’s former home is on the third floor of the Excelsior Régina Palace and owns stunning views of the city below and the Baie des Anges. Thanks to its location within one of the most prestigious enclaves in Nice, the property comes with many modern amenities, such as a swimming pool and tennis courts, as well as a generous cellar and storage space and a double garage.  

henri matisse
The south-facing property is filled with the natural light that enticed Matisse and many of the other great 20th century artists who called the region home. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s

The grounds of the Excelsior are beautifully landscaped and the entire address is protected by an on-site caretaker and a video surveillance system.  

It is currently on the market for €2,48 million. Click here to see the full listing.  

 

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Photos courtesy of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty

Use it or lose it: paid leave has an expiration date

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/05/2023
paid leave

For private sector employees in France, paid leave does not necessarily roll over into the next year, and the deadline for use is fast approaching.  

Workers in the private sector, take heed. The government has put out a reminder that last year’s accumulated paid leave expires on 31st May, unless arrangements can be made with employers to extend it, or roll it over, into this year.  

The leave in question is anything acquired between 1st June 2021 and 31st May 2022, though in certain sectors the dates vary, whilst the principle remains the same.  

If a person has not taken all their holiday time by the end of the company’s cut-off date, they risk losing it altogether. This can be avoided in some cases by speaking directly to the employer and asking for it to be postponed, but as some organisations have “use it or lose it” policies, there is a risk they will not comply.  

Some situations allow for postponement, despite company rules. These include external constraints such as sick leave, maternity or adoption leave, or the impossibility of taking time for organisational reasons at the request of your employer.  

Employees who benefit from a time savings account (CET) can invest in it the rights resulting from periods of leave or rest (RTT) not taken. 

Paid leave is obtained at the rate of 2.5 working days per month of work performed.  

 

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Photo source: Vidar Nordii-Mathisen 

Visa rules for second home owners in France may be easing

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/05/2023
visa second home france

Non-resident second home owners in France may soon be allowed a special five-year visa, allowing for a longer stay period and less red tape.

Blame it on Brexit. When the UK voted to leave the European Union, the chaos that ensued affected so much more than governmental agencies and trade. It also impacted the tens of thousands of Brits who, until then, were legally able to jump back and forth across the Channel to France, where an estimated 86,000 own second homes, and stay for as long as they wished.  

Under the current laws, UK citizens are only allowed, like any other non-EU visitor, to stay under the 90-day rule. This means that anyone coming into France can stay for a total of 90 days in a 180-day period, then they must wait another 90 days before re-entering.  

If they want to remain longer, they need to apply for a long-stay visa, giving them the right to stay from four to six months, but this needs renewing every year. It also has a fee attached.  

This may all change soon though, as the French Parliament is proposing a new visa for non-resident second homeowners that will streamline the process and eliminate the need for a certain amount of red tape.  

Introduced by Senator Corinne Imbert, this proposed amendment to the Immigration Bill states: “Any foreign national who owns a secondary residence in France may apply for an extended long-stay visa authorising him or her to stay on French territory for a period not exceeding six months per year. This visa [would be] valid for five years.” 

Support for the idea is growing, with several senators and MPs on board, particularly those from the northern reaches of France.  

The visa would be for any non-resident second home owner – not just Brits – making it a somewhat easier sell to the legislature, as well as making it more appealing for potential buyers worldwide.  

Proprietors of second homes from outside the Schengen Zone accounted for 1.5% of real estate owned in France at the end of 2019, according to Banque de France. This is up from 1% in 2001. The value of these assets came in at roughly €125 billion, a significant amount for the economy. Furthermore, second home owners pay higher property taxes than primary owners.  

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region accounts for just over 20% of the transactions, the highest in all of France.  

 

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Photo source: Jean Nicolas Fahrenberg

Monaco Grand Prix: Fan zone and scheduling, everything you need to know

by: Luke Entwistle
25/05/2023

The Fan Zone is back, giving the public a chance to get up close and personal with the stars of Formula One and have some fun. Here’s what else is on the Monaco GP schedule. 

The last time that the Fan Zone, situated in Place d’Armes in La Condamine, was organised for the Monaco Grand Prix public was in 2019. Covid restrictions put a stop to the popular activity for a few years, but it is making its highly-anticipated return this year.

The Fan Zone is a great option for families or those who are unable to get a grandstand ticket. It features plenty of entertainment, including Red Bull E-Sport simulators, the Red Bull Pit Stop Challenge, ‘Batak’ reaction tests, a selfie booth, concerts on Saturday and Sunday after the last F1 sessions, and plenty of prizes that will be awarded from the Red Bull E-Sports stand.

The public can also follow the practice sessions, the qualifying sessions and all the races live on the giant screen.

Meet and greet today’s racing stars

From Thursday to Saturday, drivers and managers will be on stage for Q&A sessions. Friday’s line-up includes Valterri Bottas, Landon Norris and Fernando Alonso, as well Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolf.

On Saturday, local favourite Charles Leclerc will appear alongside Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen will be taking part just before at 10:30am. Other drivers include Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo.

The fan zone is free to access, unlike the grandstands, which will be packed with hundreds of thousands of fans over the course of the weekend.

For the full Fan Zone live appearance schedule, check out the ACM website.

Photo of the 2019 fan zone by Monaco Life

Monaco Grand Prix Schedule

The official Formula One schedule for the race weekend is as follows:

Friday 

Formula 3 qualifying – 09:05-09:45

Formula 2 qualifying – 11:10-11:50

Free practice 1 – 13:30-14:30

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup qualifying – 15:30-16:00

Free practice 2 – 17:00-18:00

Saturday 

Formula 3 Race 1 – 11:30-12:15

Free practice 3 – 12:30-14:00

Qualifying – 16:00-17:00

Sunday 

Formula 3 Race 2 – 08:20-09:10

Formula 2 – 09:50-10:55

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – 12:05-12:40

Drivers’ Parade – 13:00-13:30

Starting Grid Set up – 14:20-14:30

Monaco Grand Prix – 15:00 (78 laps/ two hours maximum race time)

The opening of the fan zone for the first time since 2019 represents the return of complete normality to what is a special edition of the Monaco Grand Prix, the 80th in its illustrious history.

 

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SEE ALSO: 

Monaco Grand Prix fever: Tickets and packages still available

 

 

Photo source: F1 Experiences

 

Inaugural Grace Influential Positive Impact Award Grace to be handed out during Monaco GP

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/05/2023

The inaugural Grace Influential Positive Impact Award from the Princess Grace Foundation will aptly be selected and presented during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend to the Formula 1 team who has the best entry pertaining to the environmental or social sustainability.  

The Princess Grace Foundation was founded in 1982 by Prince Rainier III in honour of his wife, Grace Kelly. It continues her legacy with a prestigious awards programme that champions excellence and positive change across the arts and beyond.

This year, the Foundation is taking on a new angle as well, looking at those who have excelled in creating a positive impact for society and the environment around the globe. 

To that end, the 2023 Grace Influential Positive Impact Award invited all 10 Formula 1 teams to submit entries focusing on these topics, with a prize-giving ceremony to take place at Port Hercules on 26th May, at the start of the Grand Prix weekend in Monaco.   

JUDGED ON CERTAIN STANDARDS 

The teams’ submissions will be judged on specific criteria, including how well they work within the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework, as well as their philosophies and philanthropic achievements, which are at the heart of the Princess Grace Foundation’s work.  

“In establishing the Grace Influential Positive Impact Award, it has been critical that we build something worthy of Princess Grace’s legacy,” said Brisa Carleton, CEO of the Princess Grace Foundation. “Through our partnership with some of the most prestigious names in motorsport, we are thrilled to shine a light on the inspirational work going on across Formula One to drive progress in sustainability.” 

NEW PARTNERSHIPS 

The Foundation has also announced a partnership with Italian tyre company Pirelli, whose sustainability goals are being pushed throughout the sport’s world. 

“Sustainability is a fundamental pillar of Pirelli, fully integrated into the group’s vision and strategy for growth,” said Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport at Pirelli. “That’s even more true for motorsport, which has always been an extraordinary crucible for technical innovation that can then be transferred to everyday life.” 

Additional supporters who helped in the creation of the award come from top sustainability and sport strategic advisory firm Enovation Consulting and Times Square Live Media, who is providing media and development counsel. 

The winning Formula 1 team will be presented with artwork donated by renowned artist Dale Chihuly entitled Gilded Mediterranean Blue Venetian with Speckled Leaves.  

 

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Monaco to release Prince Rainier III commemorative coin

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/05/2023

Prince Albert has ordered a special €2 coin be made for the commemoration of the centenary of the birth of his father, Prince Rainier III, which will be free for Monegasque citizens.

The Mairie has announced that the special commemorative €2 coin will be available free of charge to Monegasque citizens from 31st May, the day the official celebratory period kicks off and the actual day that Prince Rainier was born in 1923.

People can pick up their coins from the Mairie between 2:30pm and 10:30pm on Wednesday 31st May, and from the Museum of Stamps and Coins thereafter.

A Monegasque identity card must be presented to receive the coin free of charge.

The general public can purchase the limited-edition coin online only at https://www.mtm-monaco.mc from 1stJune. Only one purchase per person is allowed.

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Photo by Monaco Life