Stéphane Durand
La Bâtisse en Blanc: when the Côte d'Azur reinvents the guest house
Just a stone's throw from Cannes and Antibes, in Golfe-Juan to be precise, you'll find one of the finest guest houses on the Côte d'Azur. A one hundred and fifty year-old building, all in white, whose refined decor is inspired by the adjoining chapel and reveals the vestiges of its history.
A private mansion transformed into a guest house.
Maison d'hôtes or hôtel particulier? Virginie and Laurent, a hotel couple originally from Corsica, hate pigeonholing themselves: "We ran our previous hotel, also located in Golfe-Juan, as a guest house. Now we own a guest house that we run like a hotel." Although it can accommodate up to eighteen guests, La Bâtisse en Blanc allows those who so desire to find a little privacy, or conversely, to share a moment of conviviality. Three separate tables make up the dining area inside the house. In the courtyard, you can enjoy lunch in the sunshine at one of five large wooden tables. In the evening, 2 times a week, Laurent takes to the stove to prepare one of his specialties: grilled meats!
Another delicacy is breakfast, where the aroma of freshly baked bread tickles the nostrils as soon as you wake up. Homemade, it goes perfectly with an omelette, also lovingly prepared.
A 250-year-old magnolia and a four-century-old Himalayan cypress
In 2022, Virginie, a passionate renovator and decorator, set her sights on a family home in the heart of Golfe-Juan, less than a ten-minute walk from the train station. With a seasoned eye for the colossal construction site, she immediately imagined the eight accommodations that would make up La Bâtisse en Blanc, inspired by the former chapel adjoining the house, where the couple had the ingenious idea of keeping the alcoves as windows. Seven months of work were needed to transform the estate into a haven of peace in the heart of a 2500m2 garden. The garden is home to a number of rare species, including a 250-year-old magnolia and a four-century-old Himalayan cypress that is said to have seen Napoleon sleep at the foot of its trunk.
"I've always loved white".
Self-taught, Virginie was lucky enough to fall into the pot of good taste as a child: "I've always loved white. When we lived in Corsica, I had an interior design company called Blanc Sable. I like to play with all shades, from off-white to light beige." Linens, lighting fixtures, curtains - white is everywhere, making the floor tiles and terrazzo shine, as do the sublime original ceilings, entirely hand-painted with colorful floral motifs. A blend of the present and the past in which we immediately feel at ease, as if we too had always been part of the history of these walls. The cloud-shaped ceiling lights, sourced in the Netherlands, add an even softer note to this Provencal cocoon, which also knows how to turn its attention to local artists, such as Jacqueline Morabito, whose candlesticks and light sculptures the couple admire.
Bright rooms in the building and in the small detached house
Each room and suite has a bathroom featuring a full range of Clarins products, from foaming gel to energizing water.I love this brand," confides Virginie. They were kind enough to grant me an exemption so that we could offer our customers their incomparable quality products." This attention to detail is evident in every accommodation in the building. In addition to its five rooms and suites, it includes a small house away from prying eyes. Whether you're with family, friends or loved ones, it's a great place to take a break around the sun-drenched swimming pool, before or after a tanning session on Golfe-Juan's Plage du Soleil; a ten-minute walk is all it takes to get your feet in the sand.
La Bâtisse's little plus
It's ideally located in the center of town, less than ten minutes by bike from the Croisette, yet not part of the Cannes frenzy. With secure parking on site, you can explore the wonderful Provencal villages in the surrounding area, from Grasse to Vieux Mougins, without worrying about parking problems. Farniente, dolce vita, discovery - you've got carte blanche.
All photos © La Bâtisse en Blanc (DR)
Virginie and Laurent's address book in Golfe-Juan
Nérolium
"A visit not to be missed. An eco-museum and store that introduce us to our local treasure: the bigarade tree, from which orange blossom is extracted."
140, avenue de la Liberté 06220 Vallauris Golfe-Juan.
Gino & Paulette
"A concept store selling excellently sourced local products, as well as delicatessen and beautiful tableware."
8, avenue de Verdun 06220 Vallauris Golfe-Juan.
Muse
"Another concept store offering a new fashion collection every week, as well as home decor."
11, avenue de Verdun 06220 Vallauris Golfe-Juan.
Le Petit Patio
“Un restaurant avec un excellent corner pâtisserie, dont on peut déguster les spécialités en terrasse en face du port, tout près de la plage du Soleil. »
23, avenue des Frères-Roustan 06220 Vallauris Golfe-Juan.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
La Bâtisse en Blanc,
6, avenue Clément-Massier 06220 Vallauris Golfe-Juan.
Rooms from €225, breakfast and parking included.
Golfe-Juan-Vallauris train station a five-minute walk away.
Secure parking, swimming pool, rooftop.
Privatization available for seminars or retreats.
