Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Encyclopedia
Beaulieu-sur-Mer Italian
: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera
between Nice
and Monaco
. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes
department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
, Èze
, and Villefranche-sur-Mer
.
, this small Mediterranean
seaport was a Greek
settlement known as Anao. It was later occupied by the Romans
. In the 3rd century, war left the village in ruins. It was soon resettled and a monastery
was built that lasted until the 6th century when it was destroyed by the Lombards
. The residents of the village fled to the safety of the surrounding hills at Montolivo (today Plateau Saint-Michel). They began to return to live by the seaside in the 13th century (see also the history of nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer
.)
Toward the end of the 19th century, as the Côte d'Azur developed into a world destination for the wealthy, Beaulieu-sur-Mer became a favorite residence for European royalty and rich Americans
such as Isaac Singer
, founder of the sewing machine company, and James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
, publisher of the New York Herald
.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer was established as a self-standing commune in 1891. It is the smallest commune, covering 92 hectares (230 acres), in the department of the Alpes-Maritimes. A large yacht harbor takes up most of the eastern seafront of the village.
The Villa Kerylos
is a stunning structure on a low rocky promontory by the sea. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the archeologist Théodore Reinach
and is in the style of an ancient Greek villa at the time of Pericles
. The Villa was bequeathed to the Institute of France in 1928. It is currently classified as a historical monument.
facilities. It is also known as the site of the Villa Kerylos, and a nice place for retirement.
. Every year, four French students are paired with four American students, and they each spend five weeks in one another's country. This student exchange is with the Tempe Sister Cities organization, which has been voted "Best Overall Sister City Program" in both 1998 and 2004.
.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
between Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
and Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat , Italian: San Giovanni Capo Ferrato, is a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It is located on a peninsula next to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and to Villefranche-sur-Mer and extends out to Cap Ferrat...
, Èze
Èze
Èze is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département in southeastern France, not far from the city of Nice.-History:The area surrounding Èze was first populated around 2000 BC as a commune situated near Mount Bastide. The earliest occurrence of the name "Èze" can be found in the maritime books of...
, and Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
.
History
During antiquityClassical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, this small Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
seaport was a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
settlement known as Anao. It was later occupied by the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. In the 3rd century, war left the village in ruins. It was soon resettled and a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was built that lasted until the 6th century when it was destroyed by the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
. The residents of the village fled to the safety of the surrounding hills at Montolivo (today Plateau Saint-Michel). They began to return to live by the seaside in the 13th century (see also the history of nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
.)
Toward the end of the 19th century, as the Côte d'Azur developed into a world destination for the wealthy, Beaulieu-sur-Mer became a favorite residence for European royalty and rich Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
such as Isaac Singer
Isaac Singer
Isaac Merritt Singer was an inventor, actor, and entrepreneur. He made important improvements in the design of the sewing machine and was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company...
, founder of the sewing machine company, and James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr.
James Gordon Bennett, Jr. was publisher of the New York Herald, founded by his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., who emigrated from Scotland. He was generally known as Gordon Bennett to distinguish him from his father....
, publisher of the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer was established as a self-standing commune in 1891. It is the smallest commune, covering 92 hectares (230 acres), in the department of the Alpes-Maritimes. A large yacht harbor takes up most of the eastern seafront of the village.
Population
Sights
Villa Kerylos
Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer was built in the early 1900s by Theodore Reinach, the famous French archaeologist and his wife Fanny Kann, a daughter of Maximilien Kann and Betty Ephrussi, of the Ephrussi family. The architect was Emmanuel Pontremoli. A Greek word, "Kerylos" means Halcyon or...
is a stunning structure on a low rocky promontory by the sea. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the archeologist Théodore Reinach
Théodore Reinach
Théodore Reinach was a French archaeologist, mathematician, lawyer, papyrologist, philologist, epigrapher, historian, numismatist, musicologist, professor, and politician....
and is in the style of an ancient Greek villa at the time of Pericles
Pericles
Pericles was a prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens during the city's Golden Age—specifically, the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars...
. The Villa was bequeathed to the Institute of France in 1928. It is currently classified as a historical monument.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer today
Today Beaulieu-sur-Mer is known as a beautiful Mediterranean resort village with quality marinaMarina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
facilities. It is also known as the site of the Villa Kerylos, and a nice place for retirement.
Sister cities
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a sister city of Tempe, ArizonaTempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. Every year, four French students are paired with four American students, and they each spend five weeks in one another's country. This student exchange is with the Tempe Sister Cities organization, which has been voted "Best Overall Sister City Program" in both 1998 and 2004.
In popular culture
Beaulieu-Sur-Mer served as the fictional town of "Beaumont-Sur-Mer" in the hit 1988 film Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsDirty Rotten Scoundrels (film)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Frank Oz. The screenplay by Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, and Paul Henning focuses on two con artists who ply their trade on the French Riviera...
.