Day: 28 October 2023

An exceptional top floor apartment at the end of the Cours Saleya that was once owned by artist Henri Matisse is going to auction in early November, with a reserve price close to €2 million. 

Originally built in the 17th century, and redeveloped and enlarged successively in the 18th and 19th centuries, the building that houses the apartment is a piece of true Niçois heritage, standing proud at the end of the Cours Saleya.

Even into the 21st century, it continues to grow with the city; its Baroque façade was recently renovated and the common areas of the sea-facing block are currently being treated to updates. 

The flat itself encompasses half of the top floor of the building and gives impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Promenade des Anglais from a wraparound balcony on the south and out to the Cours Saleya to the west.  

Famed painter Henri Matisse called this place home – amongst other things – from 1927 to 1938. The great artist, who had fallen in love with the region, used the apartment as a workshop, living quarters and a place to showcase his works, many of which were produced on site. It is the second property with ties to Matisse to reach the real estate market in that last six months. 

There is 157m2 of living space, which includes with two bedrooms, as well as amenities such as a lift and a cellar or storage space. It is due for a bit of a refresh, according to the Notarial Office of JN Champagne and L Rose, the company managing the auction of the property, but it nevertheless a gem of a place that is steeped in history.  

Bids starting at €1,785,000

From 1pm on 8th November, bids starting at €1,785,000 will be accepted via the online Immo-Interactif portal for 24 hours. Bids will increase by increments of €20,000 until the sale concludes on 9th November at 1pm.  

All bidders wishing to participate must have visited the property, signed an approval request and accepted the specific conditions provided during the visit, as well as submitted an application file that includes basic personal information such as a copy of an identity document and how the property will be financed.   

Click on the images below to see photos shared by immobilier.notaires.fr:

Read related:

Henri Matisse’s Niçois haven goes up for sale

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Main photo credit: Ville de Nice 

From a Japanese take on the gourmet trend to champagne pairings and business brunching, join Monaco Life on a tour of the best brunches the Principality has to offer this autumn. 

Brunch has become a big deal in Monaco as of late. Back in March, Monaco Life went on a “quest to find the finest brunch spots in the Principality”, but now there are even more options for the savvy snacker looking to break up their daily routine. 

First up on the list is the “only Japanese brunch in Monaco” from Izakaya Cozza on the Rue du Portier. Every Sunday between 12pm and 3pm, the restaurant is turned over to an “all you can eat” affair complete with complimentary litchi Bellini for €49 per person.

On the menu: sushi and rolls, including some Riviera-themed servings with truffle and gamberoni; okonomiyaki pancakes; ramen; bao buns; squid and seaweed salads; and an intriguing list of desserts, from red bean dorayaki to miso-chocolate biscuits.

Now we are heading to a brunch that has become the place to be seen in Monaco: La Môme Monte-Carlo. The restaurant opened in 2022 on the rooftop of the Hôtel Port Palace and while this franchise is known for its exceptional cocktails and evening dining, it is brunch that it does best here.

Book a table with friends in advance and turn up ready to dance your way into the afternoon thanks to the live music and DJ sets. The gourmet accoutrements are top quality too, so make sure the very Instagrammable La Môme is high on your list for a foodie-fun fusion of a Sunday. 

Next is the Sunday brunch at Cipriani from 12pm to 2.30pm that will tantalise your tastebuds and quite possibly have you coming back for more in the evening or taking extra away with you for later.  

Then it is on to two hotel services that will tempt the leisure guest and those in the Principality for work alike.  

The first is a ‘Musical Sunday Brunch’ at Le Méridien Beach Plaza’s L’Intempo from 12pm to 3pm. It’s a medley of Mediterranean flavours and costs €95 per person, excluding drinks.  

The second is a very reasonable brunch from the Novotel’s Azzurra Kitchen for €50 per adult and €25 for under 12s. It’s a buffet-style brunch that’s fresh and light while still hitting all the right spots. It runs from 12pm to 2.30pm in the bright and airy gallery-like restaurant.  

And we wrap up this 2023 autumn edition of the Monaco Life guide to brunch in Monaco with a mention of perhaps the newest address to take on the trend: the Espace Calyspo at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. Styled as a ‘Champagne Brunch’, expect plentiful Taittinger Cuvée Prestige to be served alongside the €135 per person gourmet selection from Michelin-starred chef Marcel Ravin.  

Read the first edition of the Monaco Life brunch guide, featuring Cova, Mozza, the Fairmont Monte-Carlo and Pavyllon, here: 

New addition! Where to find the best brunch in Monaco

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Main photo source: Cipriani Monaco / Facebook

There were 33 fatalities and over 3,000 callouts along France’s Mediterranean coast this summer. The numbers are down on 2022’s disastrous season, but “still too high” according to regional search and rescue service CROSS MED.  

Between 1st May and 30th September 2023, the Mediterranean branch of France’s Centres Régionaux Opérationnels de Surveillance et de Sauvetage, known as CROSS MED, was called out to 3,026 incidents at sea. 

From jet ski and boating accidents to dangerous diving incidents and drownings, some 223 people were seriously injured and a further 33 ultimately lost their lives.  

The figures are down compared to 2022, a summer season in which CROSS MED recorded 3,258 callouts, 5% more deaths and 15% more serious injuries, but are “still too high” according to the regional search and rescue service.  

“The worrying increase in accidents recorded [since 2019] seems to have stopped,” says Maritime Prefect for the Mediterranean and Vice-Admiral Gilles Boidevezi. “We nevertheless remain at a very high plateau.”  

An increase in diving accidents

Boidevezi points to a lack of caution and awareness as causes for the elevated statistics over the last few years, noting a “somewhat worrying increase” in diving accidents in particular, which were higher in 2023 than in 2022

There were 149 diving-related accidents – 122 of them with tanks – and a large proportion of them involved inexperienced or otherwise unprepared divers.  

“We are seeing people over the age of 50, who are not particularly sporty, embarking on complex dives at 30 metres depth,” Boidevezi adds, while calling on diving clubs to be more vigilant when organising excursions.  

New fads, such as rentals of underwater propulsion devices like Seabobs, have also contributed to the higher-than-usual accident rates recorded in recent summers as users go out on the open water without a life jacket.  

“Better sharing of space”, more respect for regulations and increased awareness of personal safety measures are required, the Maritime Prefect argues, in order to reduce accident and mortality rates further.  

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Photo source: Justin Heap, Unsplash