Address: 442 Chemin de Montfort, 06480, La Colle-Sur-Loup France

This property is listed for €8,300,000 by Alex Balkin of Savills | French Riviera & French Alps.

Set within one lush hectare of Mediterranean beauty, this romantic Provençal chateau has it all: formal gardens, water fountains, and a dreamy poolscape.

This glamorous location is the perfect setting for entertaining and gathering, with several reception rooms and terraces. There are four guest villas in addition to the main chateau, for a total of 27 rooms and 13 bedrooms.

The Château de Montfort is a Renaissance castle and former hunting lodge dates back to the 13th century, when it was a feudal castle that belonged to Romée de Villeneuve, a great seneschal of Provence.

It was passed down until it was sold In 1501 to Jean-Antoine Lascaris II, Count of Tenda and Ventimiglia, to be given as a dowry for the marriage of his daughter Anne Lascaris to René of Savoy.

It would be René who would rebuild the castle and transform it into a grand hunting lodge, and the property we see today. He hired architects and sculptors from Genoa who added a Renaissance facade, a ‘Hall of Honour’ with timbered ceilings, and a fireplace bearing the arms of Great Bastard of Savoy (being the illegitimate son of the Duke of Savoy). In 1520, it officially became "Relais de Chasse du Territoire de Gaudelet" and remained unchanged until the 19th century.

In 1882, it was purchased by a prosperous merchant from Venice, Mr. Marcelin Mouton who fell in love with the castle. His articles on the castle and the region of Montfort were published in the Annals of Arts and Letters of the Alpes-Maritimes,

In 1906, Lietta Thomas, Maitre d'Hotel in Nice purchased the estate. Enamoured with the beauty of the estate, he publishes postcards of the property that he used frequently in his correspondences with friends. His son would eventually register the Castle to Historical monuments.

Over the course of its illustrious history, the property has hosted French nobility and bourgeoisie, Pope Paul III, and the King of France (there’s an elaborate mural in the spiral staircase depicting his visit, now registered in the directory of Historical Monuments).

In the 90’s, watchman mogul Severin Wunderman purchased the property and embarked on a complete restoration of the chateau and some additions. A die hard fan for Jean Cocteau, he installed a pool designed by Cocteau (it’s signature remains) and set up a permanent exhibit of his works in the chateau. Many of these works are now housed at the Cocteau museum in Menton.

The magic of this particular property would prove to be timeless. Château de Montfort is ideally located in the cradle of the Cote d’Azur, a short drive from the charming villages of Provence (St. Paul de Vence, La Colle-sur-Loup).

All photos belong to the listing agency.