Location: Menton, French Riviera (Cote d'Azur), France, Europe (Beaches are 2 mins away. Int'l Airport in Nice 45 mins away.)
Accommodations: Villa, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 6-7)
Keywords: Villa
Paraisette is a recently built villa in traditional Provence style situated on the hills facing Menton. Most uniquely, each room of the villa offers a spectacular view of the "vieille ville" (old city) of Menton, of the coast and the Mediterranean. It has been built to provide comfort and relaxation, while retaining some features of the typical "cabanon" (traditional country house) it once was.
There is a full modern kitchen. Two master suites have their own bathroom and large private terraces, a third one also has its own bathroom and opens on a partially planted garden. The garden includes semitropical plants and trees (mimosas, orange and palm trees, olive trees, hibiscus, etc.) which could not survive without the wonderful climate of Menton.
From the covered two-car parking garage, about 30 easy steps take you to the house. The covered outdoor dining area with its wood-burning barbecue allows practically year-round outside dining.
All the rooms are linked by stairs, but one of the rooms also has separate access providing an ideal situation for, say, one family and another couple.
The Villa is ideally suited to enjoy beach activities, the extraordinary gardens of Menton and surrounding area as well as many cultural events such as art museums, galleries and concerts. A few minutes drive take you to all sites on the French and Italian Rivieras. It also lends itself to quiet relaxation.
The villa is about 2-3 minutes from the beaches and 5 km from the city of Menton. A few more minutes drive takes you either to Italy (Bordighera and San Remo) or to Monte Carlo, Monaco, Nice, Cannes and other Cote d'Azur spots.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : Available in Master bedroom, but rarely needed
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Covered Parking : Covered parking for 2 cars
- Wood Fireplace : 2 fireplaces, one with "home warming" features
- Beds
- Queen Bed : in Master BR
- Double Bed : in two of the rooms
- Twin/Single Bed : in one of the rooms
- Child Bed : Child bed available
- Crib : crib available
- Entertainment
- Private Hot Tub : Jacuzzi in the garden
- Cable/Satellite TV : 3 TV sets
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library : Lots of books in the Villa. Some VCR tapes and CD's are also available
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : American type refrigerator with ice dispenser
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill : In the covered veranda
- Deck/Patio : Covered patio allows practically year round outside dining
- Balcony : 2 large balconies with spectacular views
- View/Location
- Ocean View : see leading picture. On a clear day, view extends all the way to the Cap d'Antibes. The lighthouse of the Cap, one of the brightest in the Mediterranean, is visible on a clear night. Sometimes even Corsica can be seen at a distance.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : A "Livebox" allows free access to Internet Detailed instructions are provided in our arrival form
- Other Amenities
- Charcoal BBQ, 2 Fireplaces, Covered outside patio/dining area, and Crib, Maid service available upon request (at extra cost)
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Rock Climbing
- Restaurants
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Arboretum and Gardens, Museums (traditional and modern art), Alpine ski-ing in the Winter
Rate Details (In Euros)
Nov-Mar .. €1400/week.
Apr ...... €1400/week.
May ...... €1800/week.
Jun ...... €1800/week.
Jul-Aug .. €1800/week.
Sep ...... €1800/week.
Oct ...... €1400/week.
Refundable Security Deposit €500.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 1922
François was born in Switzerland, but was brought to Menton 12 days after birth to be baptized at the Saint Michel basilica. Ever since he considers Menton and the Villa his second home. He now lives in the US, but tries to escape two or three times a year to rewind at Paraisette, even for a few days.
Why the Owner Chose Menton
This property has belonged to my family for many years, but it was just a place where people woulg go, perhaps on Sunday noon to have some pastis and a bite to eat. There was no road: in order to get there you had to walk straight up, avoiding slippery stones and thorny bushes. Once up there, you had better have your own food and drink. There was no water, no electricity and... no neighbors. But of course the view was there, together with the breeze and the silence (unless the cicadas were in full swing).
Then in the late 60's a road was built which, by pure coincidence went exactly past the property. We therefore found an architect who, step by step built the property you can enjoy today.
The Unique Benefits of this Villa
One of the features of Paraisette is that it is of course located on the Côte d'Azur with all the beautiful and glamorous amenities associated with the area. It is also very close to Liguria, an interesting region with worthwhile sights, cuisine and wines. We very much encourage our guests to explore that little known corner of Italy. But first and foremost, a stay at the Villa will allow you to savor the charm of Menton. Once one of the most glamorous spots of Europe, Menton was somewhat passed by the huge tourist developments of the Cote d'Azur in the 50's and 60's. Things are changing now, but, as you will look at the scenery of the old town from Paraisette or explore the fabulous gardens and Villas in and around Menton, you will still get a feeling of how it was many years ago.
Property Photos
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- View from Master Bedroom Terrace - Menton, French Riviera (Cote d'Azur), France - Access to Italian & French Rivieras
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- The Villa - Menton, French Riviera (Cote d'Azur), France - Access to Italian & French Rivieras
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- Bedroom with direct access to the Garden - Menton, French Riviera (Cote d'Azur), France - Access to Italian & French Rivieras
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- Master bedroom (new parquet)
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- Living room and kitchen
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- View from dining area
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- Jacuzzi
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- Dusk view
Traveler Reviews (9)
Excellent location, stunning views!!!! Quiet neighborhood and very charming home!
Guest: DN
(San Diego (California))
Date of Stay: 08/28/10
Review Submitted: 01/27/11
I am so sorry, I am late to write a review but wanted to say thank for sharing your home with us. It is absolutely fantastic. The location was great. We loved the view from the kitchen and master bedroom terrace. We must have taken a ton of pictures of the old town from the terrace. We had dinner outside on the patio every night. The location was great because it provides an easy access to the Italian and French side. Grocery shopping in the nearby village of Latte in Italy was very convenient convenient (a 5 minute drive from the house). The public beach downtown Menton was also only 5 minutes away in the other direction with easy parking available (in late August/early September). The kitchen was fully stocked and Francois was very helpful and responsive to our inquiries. The only downside I could point out is that the windows do not have screens and there were quite a few mosquitos roaming around during our stay. We tried the sprays but they didn't work all that well. Otherwise, everything about this charming home was perfect. It is rustic but very comfortable. We had everything we needed to cook and relax. It is a great value and I highly recommended to anyone who wants to explore the French Riviera. The house is away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy areas, yet a short drive to restaurants and old town Menton. It is less than a 10-minute drive to Monte Carlo, which is a great place to visit. We loved our vacation and would stay at this house again in the future. Thank you, Francois, for being such a good host. You made our stay very pleasant. One more thing to add is that the house is provides privacy for multiple couples as two of the bedroom suites can be accessed from the outside and the lay out of the home is such that you have plenty of space to spread out. And a quick word of caution, if you are not used to driving in France, the street signage is not particularly good so we had a tough time locating the house initially. You can have the best mapquest or google instructions, but they are not particularly helpful when the street signs are sparce. There were no street signs at every intersection like you'd normally have in most places in the US and not enough advance notice of streets coming up, so watch out for that as you navigate your way around, and by all means enjoy your stay at the lovely/picturesque town of Menton!!!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.
Menton, Fall of 09
Guest: vlt
(Fairfax, Va)
Date of Stay: 09/26/09
Review Submitted: 10/18/09
We recently spent a week at the Villa and had a wonderful time. The property was clean and well appointed. We could not have picked a better location, too. Menton is a lovely city, full of unexpected pleasures, and the Villa is so close to Italy that day trips to the Italian Riviera were easy. Our evenings were spent making dinners in the comfortable kitchen, and enjoying wine on the terrace while gazing at the amazing view of the coastline. We could see all the way to Monaco! Mr. Boller was an incredible host, we had everything we needed going into the Villa and everything we needed once there. He made sure we were comfortable and gave us very good ideas of things to do in the area. I would definitely recommend this Villa to my friends and family - actually to anyone who is looking for a beautiful vista, enchanting surroundings, and incredible day trips.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children.
Guest: JonathanD
(Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/13/09
Review Submitted: 07/13/09
We had a terrific two week stay in July at the villa. Our host provided most helpful information about the villa and the area. He was responsive to any questions or concerns. The setting of the villa is stunning, a panoramic view we will always remember. The villa is large and well furnished and equipped. It is close to town but removed enough so that you feel away from the at times crowded, busy pace of Cote D'Azur in high season. The hot tub was enjoyable. We used the wood burning oven to cook some memorable seafood meals. the villa is also well priced compared to others in the area we researched. A bonus for us is that our son and his French bulldog could stay with us when they were visiting from Berlin. Overall we would recommend staying at the Villa Paraisette for those wanting an excellent location, comfort and unforgettable vista. Merci bien Francois. John and Cathy, Hamilton, Ontario
Recommended for:
Guest: Margaux
(Philadelphia, PA USA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/09
Review Submitted: 07/03/09
My husband and I recently returned from our second (of what we hope to be many) visit(s) to La Paraisette. We took advantage of its location, perched on a mountain above Menton and the ocean, to work off some of the lunches in town. It is a perfect hike up wide concrete steps or the road and we always loved returning to the spectacular views of the ocean, harbor and beautiful Menton from every inch of the property. We often used the jacuzzi to untangle our leg muscles after the hike. M. Boller is a fantastic host. First, the villa has all that one may need. The kitchen is well stocked to prepare lovely meals on site (hopefully using fresh local ingredients), and even a brick barbecue attendant with a comfortable outdoor dining area (could easily accommodate 6-8) under an arbor. There are too many good things to write about the villa. Suffice it to say, M. Boller willing, we plan to return again and again. Margaret Rover
Recommended for:
Guest: Jim and Mimi
(Lincoln Nebraska USA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/09
Review Submitted: 04/22/09
The vista from Villa Paraisette is breathtaking and being situated near straddling the French-Italian border offers the cultures and cuisines of both countries.Being "foodies",we chose to by-pass the excellent local restaurants this time and cooked-in every night in the well equipped kitchen and barbecue.Shopping at the Supermercato in the small Italian town of Latte (a ten minute drive from the villa)yielded freshly made pasta and antipasti as well as local garden fresh produce. Having free and handy internet access is a real bonus.The villa is perfect for families or 3 couples because the 3 bedrooms and adjoining bathrooms have a good measure of individual privacy.We stayed at the villa in February and were comfortable sitting on the terrace in light sweaters which we quickly doffed after several minutes in the Riviera sun.Of the five French properties we've previously rented, Villa Paraisette is,by far,our favorite. We hope to return several times.
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/21/08
Review Submitted: 01/21/08
A previous renter left the following comment in our Livre d'Or: May 19-June 2, 2007 Dear Francois and Family, The end of out two weeks is drawing to a close but we wish we could continue...Would you believe this our first trip to Europe?!! The narrow winding roads frightened me at firrst but thankfully my husband is from the Philippines and is accustomed to this kind of terrain. Soon I relaxed and REALLY enjoyed the view, those winding roads lulling me to sleep on our journey home from neighboring villages of Cote d'Azur.The Monaco Grand Prix was "hair raising"...absolutely thrilling.I hope you will attend some day. It was wonderful to realize that I made such a sound decision opting for a Villa instead of a Hotel. After my experience here, I do not ever see choosing a Hotel over a "home" for a family vacation. Menton is spectacular. All of the Cote d'Azur is amazing and we are convinced that you could not get a bad meal even if you tried.
Recommended for:
Guest: Becky_HAC111925
(Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/25/07
Review Submitted: 10/25/07
A true Riviera jewel offered at an outstanding value! My husband, father-in-law, and 2 year old son enjoyed a spectacular vacation here in the latter portion of May/early June 2007. The most outstanding feature of Paraisette is the glorious view...from every living/sleeping area of the villa. Incredible architectural design! Not to mention how it's location is so easily accessible to everything. The convenience is like nothing I have ever experienced from a hotel. Restaurants, bus station, train station, shopping, grocery, banking, cafes, internet cafes all just minutes from the villa. No worries about accumulating laundry or having to dine out for every meal. The local grocers have a delectable selection of food and wine (of course!). Some of the best meals that we enoyed in Frace were the ones that we prepared at the villa. There is a fabulous outdoor barbecue that we made frequent use of. However, you will want to dine out from time to time. It seems that you couldn't get a bad meal even if you tried. The local restaurants are superb, out of this world. So many located right along the coastline with outdoor seating, very picturesque. After our experience at Paraisette, I will never stay at a hotel when visiting the riviera. In fact, we will return to Paraisette. Menton is beyond charming...how colorful...I can't even put it into words. The people of Menton fit right into its delightful picture. We really don't speak much French but everyone was so willing to "meet us half way" when they couldn't speak english. Not to worry, somehow both parties always seem to get their desired communication across...is't actually quite fun. In regard to getting around to other riviera destinations, well it's simple. I recommend having a rental car (nice parking accomodations at the villa). It makes it easier to get to bus and train stations and of course gives you endless freedom to go where and when you want. Cruising the winding roads across the stretch of the riviera is a breathtaking experience you won't want to miss. Getting to Monaco (and really any other destinations) by train is super fast. Monaco is small so we often took the train knowing it is easy and quite pleasant to walk throughout the pricipality. By the way, the train station is about a 3 minute drive from the villa. We enjoyed taking our car to the larger cities further down the coast (Nice for example) as it allows for greater flexibility in your day. You can certainly cover more area that way, and ma
Recommended for:
Guestbook Comment
Guest: Becky_HAC111925
(Houston, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07
Review Submitted: 10/25/07
A true Riviera jewel offered at an outstanding value! My husband, father-in-law, and 2 year old son enjoyed a spectacular vacation here in the latter portion of May/early June 2007. The most outstanding feature of Paraisette is the glorious view...from every living/sleeping area of the villa. Incredible architectural design! Not to mention how it's location is so easily accessible to everything. The convenience is like nothing I have ever experienced from a hotel. Restaurants, bus station, train station, shopping, grocery, banking, cafes, internet cafes all just minutes from the villa. No worries about accumulating laundry or having to dine out for every meal. The local grocers have a delectable selection of food and wine (of course!). Some of the best meals that we enoyed in Frace were the ones that we prepared at the villa. There is a fabulous outdoor barbecue that we made frequent use of. However, you will want to dine out from time to time. It seems that you couldn't get a bad meal even if you tried. The local restaurants are superb, out of this world. So many located right along the coastline with outdoor seating, very picturesque. After our experience at Paraisette, I will never stay at a hotel when visiting the riviera. In fact, we will return to Paraisette. Menton is beyond charming...how colorful...I can't even put it into words. The people of Menton fit right into its delightful picture. We really don't speak much French but everyone was so willing to "meet us half way" when they couldn't speak english. Not to worry, somehow both parties always seem to get their desired communication across...is't actually quite fun. In regard to getting around to other riviera destinations, well it's simple. I recommend having a rental car (nice parking accomodations at the villa). It makes it easier to get to bus and train stations and of course gives you endless freedom to go where and when you want. Cruising the winding roads across the stretch of the riviera is a breathtaking experience you won't want to miss. Getting to Monaco (and really any other destinations) by train is super fast. Monaco is small so we often took the train knowing it is easy and quite pleasant to walk throughout the pricipality. By the way, the train station is about a 3 minute drive from the villa. We enjoyed taking our car to the larger cities further down the coast (Nice for example) as it allows for greater flexibility in your day. You can certainly cover more area that way, and make unexpected stop offs when something catches your eye. The owner of the villa is extremely helpful and trustworthy. Also, he is a true expert on the area. I hope your time at Paraisette will be as memorable as ours.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #2102
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