Skip to main content

Chez Nous

2 bedrooms, 2 bath
  • Vacation rental apartment with panoramic views of the entire bay and Cap Ferrat from the living space, dining, kitchen and balcony
  • Large sun-drenched balcony with dining for four, and sun lounger
  • Two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, AC in master bedroom
  • Steps from waterfront and beach
  • In the heart of the Old Town on the prettiest pedestrian street, known as the ‘garden street’ of Villefranche
  • Beautifully appointed with original art, decorative lighting and comfortable furniture and beds
  • Quiet location and convenient to shops, restaurants and cafés
  • WiFi, phone with free long distance calling, Smart TV (with French and English stations), washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, stereo with Bluetooth connection and indoor and outdoor speakers
  • Five-minute walk to train station and 5-7 minute walk to bus, excellent public transport, no need for a car
When you enter Chez Nous, this is the view. Two large French doors bring the view in throughout the apartment whether napping on the sofa, sitting at the dining table, or cooking in the kitchen — you are always pulled into the panoramic, yet intimate view of the bay and Cap Ferrat. There are two flights of stairs (one inside) to arrive to the living room of the apartment from street level.
We had to take three photos to show the full panorama of the view from Chez Nous. The photo is looking towards the beach of Villefranche and the magnificent cliffs above that plunge to the sea. Chez Nous is the penthouse apartment in a small building with two other apartments.
Everyone gasps when stepping into the apartment as the view is breathtaking and filled with sunshine and light with beautiful cathedral ceilings. The bay is so close that you can hear lines being pulled in on the yachts. This part of the view is looking directly across the bay to Cap Ferrat. Evening it is stunning with the light from the village, boats and street lanterns.
The third photo is looking out to the lighthouse and the entrance to the bay and the blue Mediterranean beyond. You will not tire sitting on the balcony and watching the day go by. There is a sun lounger and an awning for sun protection. The balcony is very private and quiet as it is on the rooftops.
Two French doors lead onto the balcony. The balcony table is large enough to comfortably seat four people for dining. The inside dining table can comfortably seat six, all with fabulous views of the bay. Original artwork from local artists compliments the décor. The evening ambiance is enhanced by the artistic lighting throughout the apartment, all on dimmers.
The living room can comfortably seat six people or easily accommodate two for a nap while staring out at the fabulous views and basked in sunshine. There’s a great music system with inside and outside speakers, and a SmartTV with English and French stations plus Apple TV with an extensive movie library. Plus excellent reading lights in all the right places.
The large kitchen (five meters long) is fully equipped for someone who loves to cook. There is a gas stove, dishwasher, microwave, quality knives, knife sharpener, pots and pans, food processor, soup mixer, hand mixer, etc. There is a large coat closet, and around the corner the laundry/furnace closet.
There is a comfortable antique kitchen table with two chairs to enjoy a light meal in the kitchen or keep the cook company. From the kitchen you enjoy the views of the bay plus to the back of the apartment where you peak into the private walled gardens of our neighbors. All of our guests love this kitchen.
The master bedroom has a queen-sized bed with an excellent mattress and night stands with reading lights. The bedroom features lovely cathedral ceilings and an ensuite bathroom. There is an antique armoire and dresser providing excellent clothes storage. AC in the bedroom.
Two large French windows provide lots of sunshine and light with charming views into secret walled gardens across the quiet, little pedestrian street called Baron de Bres, otherwise known as the garden street. The bedroom has AC.
Here you look down into one of the beautiful walled gardens. From the street level you would have no idea there is such a lovely garden inside the stone walls — like a secret garden.
The ensuite bathroom has two sinks, excellent lighting and storage, a wonderful soaking tub and a stall shower. There is also excellent lighting and mirrors plus an exhaust fan that vents to the outside.
There is an excellent soaking tub for those who love a bath and also a stall shower. The soaking tub has wonderful arm rests so you can enjoy a long bath and read or just relax and meditate.
There is a custom-made stairwell leading from the main floor to the mezzanine. It is a piece of art in itself. To access the stairs you pass one of the two desk areas. The other desk area is in the mezzanine. Behind the desk is the laundry/furnace closet.
Arriving in the mezzanine you are surprised how spacious and light it is — with its three skylights. Even a 6’ 2” (195 cm) person can stand up with no problem. There is a queen-sized bed (that can be separated into two twin beds), and a desk. Reading lights are on both sides of the bed. No AC in this bedroom.
The mezzanine bedroom is very comfortable. You will find lots of storage for clothing, an ensuite bathroom and plenty of privacy from the living space below, plus great views through the skylights while laying in bed.
The upstairs bathroom has a skylight, excellent lighting, a stall shower, plenty of counter space and storage for toiletries. From the skylight you can see the beautiful verdant cliffs that plunge into the bay.
The view from the mezzanine to the main room below is beautiful yet also private for dressing or coming out of the shower. You are, however, open to noise from the main living space below. The views from the skylights are also beautiful.

Chez Nous

2 bed, 2 bath

This apartment is available for long term rental

Map of Chez Nous
Location of Chez Nous is circled on the map.
Click to view in Google Maps.

About the Location

Chez Nous is the penthouse apartment on the quiet little pedestrian street called Baron de Bres,  located in the heart of the pedestrian Old Town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, just steps from the waterfront. It is called the garden street of Villefranche as it has lovely gardens all along the street, and is just steps from the boulangerie, butcher, green grocer, cafés, restaurants, bars, and pharmacy. It is one pedestrian street away (a 1-minute walk) from the waterfront where you find the beach, a number of restaurants, various shops including a grocery store, an excellent Italian traitteur (deli), a boulangerie, a newspaper stand, and more. Just two pedestrian streets up the hill, you come to Place de la Paix, the top of the Old Town, where there is another boulangerie, a butcher, a green grocer, pharmacy, café and restaurants.  Read more about the village on our page About Villefranche.

Chez Nous is a quiet place to live. All you hear are the noises of village life: children playing, neighbors catching up and church bells ringing (although you don’t hear them in the apartment). You can definitely imagine what life was like 200 years ago as you are living a slice of it while here, albeit in much more comfort. Chez Nous has a privileged position because there are no buildings opposite the apartment. On one side are private gardens filled with beautiful trees, flowers and birdsong, and on the other side are terracotta rooftops below you as the cascade to the sea.  You feel as though you can throw a stone and hit the sea, you are that close.

Public transport is terrific. The bus is about a 5-10 minute walk away, and the train about a 5-7 minute walk. Both are enjoyable strolls that take you through different parts of the village. And from the doorstep of Chez Nous you can do any number of our recommended walks.

  • Vacation rental apartment with panoramic views of the entire bay and Cap Ferrat from the living space, dining, kitchen and balcony
  • Large sun-drenched balcony with dining for four, and sun lounger
  • Two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, AC in master bedroom
  • Steps from waterfront and beach
  • In the heart of the Old Town on the prettiest pedestrian street, known as the ‘garden street’ of Villefranche
  • Beautifully appointed with original art, decorative lighting and comfortable furniture and beds
  • Quiet location and convenient to shops, restaurants and cafés
  • WiFi, phone with free long distance calling, Smart TV (with French and English stations), washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, stereo with Bluetooth connection and indoor and outdoor speakers
  • Five-minute walk to train station and 5-7 minute walk to bus, excellent public transport, no need for a car

About the Apartment

The views from the balcony and living room are truly panoramic, 180 degrees. You see from the beach and the cliffs to the mouth of the bay, the full length of Cap Ferrat, rooftops of the Old Town, the lighthouse at the entrance of the bay, and the full parade of boats that visit the bay all year long. Yet, the sea also feels so close, like you can almost throw a stone and hit the water. The sun rises and sun sets are beautiful.

So, when we saw this apartment for the first time in the late summer of 2013, we were not looking to purchase another apartment. In fact, it was not at all a convenient time in our lives. But I saw it and knew we had to have it. I could see the potential through the ruined state it was in. We worked like fiends to be able to purchase it and then start a complicated remodel which included gutting the apartment to the stone walls and taking off the entire roof which was in a terrible and dangerous state. Furthermore, located in the heart of the village, everything — I mean everything — had to be carried on the back of a man (dos d’homme) up and down hundreds of steps. One roof beam alone weighed 200 kilos — 6 men to carry to plus a portable window crane to help lift it into place. But the result is now Chez Nous, a place where we hope you will feel at home.

Because we had to redo the roof we were able to create a mezzanine (loft) where there is the second bedroom and bathroom. And this enabled us to have beautiful cathedral ceilings in the living room and master bedroom. We renovated the apartment to a very high standard so it should be good for another 100 years — at least the bones.

The building is a very old one, probably around 500 or 600 years old. Chez Nous is the top floor. The other two apartments are owned by two local ladies, cousins. Their mothers both lived in this building. There is one stairwell in the main hallway to arrive to the apartment and the second stairwell is inside the apartment. Chez Nous is the penthouse apartment.

The apartment receives a lot of sunlight and light. There are two large French doors that open onto the large balcony, which faces mostly south, skylights in the mezzanine, and tall French windows in the master bathroom that look into the private gardens and up at the cliffs that surround the bay of Villefranche. All ensure the apartment is very bright and airy.  When you open the French doors to the balcony and the master bedroom doors or mezzanine skylights, you get an excellent cross-breeze plus lovely fresh air.  There is AC in the master bedroom but not in the mezzanine bedroom.

The décor is a mixture of antiques that we have completely refurbished and modern furniture (sofas, excellent beds, new kitchen and appliances). The artwork is all original art from various artists from France, mostly from the south. And the lighting is romantic and artistic (one of our specialties) and all is on dimmers. We also have excellent reading lights exactly where you want them.

Apartment Amenities

You walk up the beautiful slate stairs internal to the apartment and arrive to the main room where you will gasp as you see the amazing view and take in the dramatic feel of the room — light, views, space — it is beautiful. You are in the living room where there is an L-shaped sofa that can seat 4 or 5 people very comfortable (more if needed) and fits two perfectly for an afternoon nap with each person having a perfect view of the bay and Cap Ferrat. Whether sitting or laying down on the sofa you have unobstructed views of the bay. There is also a dining table with 6 chairs, although you could fit two more people if you wanted to entertain more. There is a vaissellier (a dish cupboard) so it is easy to set the dining table. There are two French doors leading to the balcony where there is a dining table that can seat 4, and a sun lounger. The balcony has full sun and wonderful sun awning that you will enjoy and use. There is a stereo system with a Bluetooth connection that has inside and outside speakers. There is lovely original art and lighting throughout the room. You can arrange the lighting according to your mood. The sofa has excellent reading lights as well.

The kitchen is a favorite among our clients. It is designed for someone who loves to cook and includes all the utensils and gadgets you would want plus a dishwasher, microwave, gas stove top, oven, etc. The kitchen has a bit of an art gallery including some lovely old hand painted tiles from Vallauris (where Picasso did his ceramic work) which is just a few villages away from here. We have three of those tiles in the kitchen and two on the balcony. On the opposite wall is artwork from two known artists of our area. The kitchen has a granite countertop, excellent knives and pots and pans, and lots of storage space. There is an antique table and two chairs so you can enjoy a bite to eat in the kitchen or keep the cook company while a meal is being prepared. The kitchen table is fortunate to have superb views of the bay and charming views of the back gardens — from both chairs.

The master bedroom is in the back of the apartment with two very tall French windows and a cathedral ceiling. There are French doors that lead from the kitchen area to the master bedroom. There is a large queen-size bed with two night stands and reading lights plus an antique armoire and chest of drawers that have been completely refurbished and designed for convenient clothes storage. There are two sitting chairs where you can enjoy sitting at the window and reading a book or just taking in the beautiful views of the gardens and lush cliffs surrounding the bay of Villefranche. The master bedroom receives lovely afternoon sunshine. Ensuite to the master bedroom is a bathroom with two sinks, plenty of counter space, excellent lighting and storage for bathroom items, a stall shower and a wonderful soaking tub (a great Villeroy & Boch soaking tub), a toilet and douchette.  There is AC in this bedroom.

At the other end of the kitchen, next to the stairwell where you arrived into the apartment, is a closet for coats and grocery bags and a second closet where the washing machine, furnace, ironing board, and other such items are located. There is also a desk in this little hallway area that overlooks the living and dining room and views of the bay. It is a great place to work. And next to it is the hand-crafted stairwell that leads to the mezzanine.

The mezzanine is a favorite place of our guests. It is a cozy yet spacious place. There is enough height for someone of over 2 meters to stand. The bed is a queen-sized bed that can be separated into two twin beds. There is plenty of clothes storage (drawers and hanging space) plus there is a sitting chair and a desk. There is also an ensuite bathroom with a large stall shower, sink with plenty of counter space, toilet and douchette. The mezzanine and bathroom have 3 skylights that not only offer wonderful light and air but also fabulous views of the tops of the cliffs in one direction and Mont Boron and the ancient fort and the top of the church in another direction — from the bed as well as from standing and walking around. The mezzanine is very light and spacious and, although it overlooks the living area, it is quite private.