Layered with history, art, and design innovation, the Riviera’s built environment offers a showcase of style and lifestyle.

Belle Époque: The Riviera’s Golden Age

The Belle Époque (“Beautiful Era”), spanning roughly 1871 to 1914, defined the Riviera’s elegance and refinement. This was a period of ornate façades, sweeping colonnades, and lavish decorative details inspired by classical and Renaissance traditions. Iconic landmarks such as Nice’s Hotel Le Negresco, crowned with its famous pink dome, or the Excelsior Régina Palace in Cimiez, capture the glamour of a time when the Riviera became Europe’s most fashionable playground. 

Belle Époque villas and residences remain among the Riviera’s most sought-after properties today, treasured for their rare combination of historic grandeur and timeless luxury.

Art Deco: Glamour with an edge

The 1920s ushered in a bold new chapter as the dazzling social world of Chanel, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the international set converged along the coast. Art Deco architecture, with its sharp lines, balanced symmetry, and bold geometric motifs, captured the optimism and confidence of the era.

Seafront villas embraced this strikingly modern style, often enhanced with decorative mosaics and sleek detailing. Landmarks such as the Hôtel Belles Rives in Cap d’Antibes, once Fitzgerald’s home, and the Hôtel Martinez in Cannes stand as icons of this vibrant period.

Provençal Charm: Rustic elegance reimagined

Beyond the glitz of the coastline, Provençal villas embody the region’s timeless, Mediterranean appeal. With warm façades, painted shutters, terracotta tiles, and thick stone walls that keep interiors cool in the summer sun, these homes are enduring symbols of regional charm.

Traditional mas farmhouses speak of a rural heritage, while grand bastides and manor houses reflect a sense of beauty and character. Today, many owners restore these homes with care, uncovering their history and preserving their authenticity.

Coastal Heritage: Fishermen’s Houses and Townhouses

Along the old fishing ports of Saint-Tropez, Villefranche, Cannes and Cap d’Antibes, rows of colourful former fishermen’s houses recall the Riviera’s earliest days. Tiled roofs, shuttered windows, and cobbled streets evoke a simpler, quieter pace of life. 

In Nice and Beaulieu, historic townhouses with wrought-iron balconies and decorative façades have been lovingly restored, blending old-world charm with modern comfort. 

Contemporary Riviera: Light, Space & Innovation

The Côte d’Azur skyline is as much about the future as it is about the past. From Pierre Cardin’s iconic Bubble Palace and Jacques Couëlle’s organic, sculptural forms, to Eileen Gray’s pioneering Villa E-1207 and Jean Nouvel’s visionary contemporary works, the Riviera has long embraced bold, forward-looking architecture. 

Modern residences maximise open layouts, panoramic terraces, infinity pools, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, with materials such as glass, steel, and natural stone, reflecting the Mediterranean landscape. Sustainable technologies and elegant entertaining spaces demonstrate that innovation thrives alongside ageless beauty.

Further information

Contact Alice Storrie or Alex Balkin

Explore our portfolio of Riviera properties, where history and innovation combine to create truly exceptional places to call home.