Buyer’s guide: The best luxury properties for sale on the French Riviera

Formerly owned by Bond actor Sean Connery and boasting views down on to Nice, this South of France home is surely an A-list offering. Commanding a prime position on the Cap de Nice, Villa Le Roc Fleuri is a 1920s-built five-bedroom house perched on a Côte d’Azur hillside among half a hectare of manicured, colourful gardens. “The location is a little unknown,” says Edward de Mallet Morgan, of agent Knight Frank, “at the foot of Mont Boron, on the edge of the Cap de Nice.”

With their enviable seaward outlook, the grounds are as much of a draw as the villa itself. The terraced gardens have been recently re-landscaped and feature stone walls and vibrantly coloured plants and shrubs. The prime attraction among these 5,000 square metres is the round saltwater swimming pool that looks directly over the Mediterranean towards Nice.

“The Côte d’Azur is a sailing and yachting Mecca, and the connection to the sea is a big part of the feel of such a waterfront villa,” says de Mallet Morgan. Inside the 1,000-square-metre belle époque-style property, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of that connection. The master suite has a whole floor, with French doors opening off the bedroom on to a private balcony. There are also two separate bathroom suites and an adjoining dressing room and walk-in wardrobe. The interior style has been updated to be contemporary and simple, with recessed lighting and wooden floors, while still retaining pre-war touches such as intricate ironwork and marble stairs. Villa Le Roc Fleuri has both a gym and a hammam for keeping in 007-shape, plus an indoor infinity pool with sea views. A lift and stone stairs access the lower ground floor, where there is a central hall and large dining room with windows on to the terrace. There is also a home office and a cosy family snug/media room. Two-bedroom guest villas and a staff apartment above the two-car garage offer further accommodation. All three of the entrances to the property are gated, and there is easy access to the A8 for Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Monaco, Saint-Tropez or the Italian Riviera – or wherever it is your next mission sends you.

Villa Le Roc Fleuri, Cap de Nice, is listed for sale with Knight Frank for €30 million.

Looking for modern luxury you can really put your own stamp on? This new build property just five minutes from Saint-Tropez is currently looking for its first owner making it a rare opportunity to own a state-of-the-art home in this most sought after of locations. The main selling point of this home is its incredible views from its vantage point on the Route de la Belle Isnarde, which span a panorama from the Bay of Canoubiers to the Esterel.

The property’s main villa offers eight en suite bedrooms, an office, airy living room, dining room, cinema, kitchen with pantry, laundry room and gym while a separate caretaker’s house features a further two bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Outside, 5,400 square metres of landscaped garden contain a 20 metre swimming pool, large terraces, sunbathing areas, vegetable garden, outdoor lounge and summer kitchen with bar.

Villa Tahiti is listed for sale for €23 million with Cote d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty.

Occupying a prime position overlooking the bay of Cannes in the exclusive La Californie area, this luxurious estate offers unrivalled privacy combined with the space and amenities to entertain large families or groups. The main residence has been designed in a Balinese style that emphasises indoor/outdoor living and offers seven large en suite bedrooms plus a master suite with sitting room, dressing room, bathroom and private terraces.

The focal point of the estate’s living spaces is an unusual covered courtyard with koi pond, living wall and waterfall which leads into the main entrance hall equipped with a lift and open plan living room with fireplace. Elsewhere the property offers a bar, dining room, TV room, modern kitchen, gym, spa, wine cellar, dance studio, cinema and staff quarters. Outside, 11,000 square metres of manicured gardens feature a swimming pool and Jacuzzi surrounded by a bar, terraces, summer kitchen, changing rooms and dining area.

Alang Alang is listed for €64 million with Knight Frank.

Built for the Count of Milleant as a high-society resort in the 1920s, the legendary Palais Maeterlink has recently been redeveloped into 18 beautiful residences offering ultimate privacy and luxury with a range of hotel-style services. Recently completed after a sensitive restoration which combined modern architecture and materials with some of the building’s stunning original features, 13 apartments are still available with the largest spanning 380 square metres plus a 141.5 square metre terrace with seaviews, private pool and four parking spaces. The development also offers a huge communal pool, landscape gardens, an elevator that offers direct access to the waterfront, a dock with mooring for small boats, 24 hour security and a team of staff available for home management.

The Palais Maeterlinck residences are listed for sale with Cote d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty with prices from €3.38 million.