Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

About the museum

Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, daughter of banker Alphonse de Rothschild, bought seven hectares on the narrow peninsula of Cap Ferrat in 1905. Work on the villa and its gardens lasted about five years and was completed around 1912. The house, in the Italian Renaissance style, was first named Villa Île-de-France.

Béatrice gathered many collections here, brought from her Paris mansion and her villas in Monte Carlo: 18th-century furniture and woodwork, Gobelins tapestries, Savonnerie carpets, porcelain from Meissen, Vincennes and Sèvres, and a Far Eastern salon. When she died in 1934, she bequeathed the villa, the gardens and the collections to the Académie des beaux-arts, wishing to create a museum that would keep the atmosphere of a private home. The site opened to the public in 1937.

The estate is surrounded by nine themed gardens, including the French garden, the Florentine garden, the Spanish garden, the Japanese garden, the exotic garden and the rose garden. It is classified as a “jardin remarquable” (remarkable garden). The Académie des beaux-arts, the owner, resumed direct management of the site on January 1, 2023, after a long period of delegation to the company Culturespaces.

Highlights

• Furnished salons with tapestries, porcelain and 18th-century carpets
• French garden, the largest of the estate’s gardens
• Themed gardens: Florentine, Spanish, Japanese, exotic and rose garden
• Sea views from the villa in the Italian Renaissance style
• Restaurant Béatrice within the villa grounds

Founded

1937

Operated by

Académie des beaux-arts (Institut de France)

Admission & discounts

The audio guide is included in the price. Admission is also free for members of ICOM and ICOMOS, journalists, job seekers and holders of the Pass Éducation. Free admission does not apply to temporary events, evening openings or the Festival of Roses (Fête des Roses). Online tickets are valid for one day and do not give priority entry.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The villa is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, who enter free without a reservation. Strollers are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Free for children under 7; reduced rate for ages 7 to 17. Strollers are allowed. The website does not list a specific offer for children.

Getting there & parking

By car, take the lower coast road (Basse Corniche, RD 6098).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Restaurant Béatrice (tea room) open from 11:00 to 17:30; bookshop and museum shop. Cloakroom for medium-sized bags, operated with a €1 coin; suitcases are not accepted. Animals are not allowed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Private receptions and events: contact evenements@villa-ephrussi.com.

Plan your visit