Ultima Cannes Le Grand Jardin, the newest addition to Ultima Collection’s growing portfolio, will open in 2022. Ultima Cannes Le Grand Jardin is a historic, walled private estate that was originally home to royals such as Louis XIV and the world’s elite. It is the only private property on the island of Sainte-Marguerite.
Le Grand Jardin will include state-of-the-art décor, facilities, and the finest levels of service, similar to Ultima Collection’s current properties around Europe while providing a truly unique, secluded, and once-in-a-lifetime experience for a group on the Côte d’Azur.
Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of four islands in the Lérins archipelago, located about half a mile off the French Mediterranean coast, and is known for its unspoiled beauty.
Artists and photographers such as Pablo Picasso and Lee Miller have frequented the island, seeking respite from the mainland for their “own” unspoiled island getaway. Francis Picabia, a French avant-garde painter, was mesmerised by the island’s remarkable flora, animals, and light, and depicted it in his work L’île Sainte-Marguerite.
Ultima’s guests will feel as if they are staying on their own hidden private island, as it is only accessible by boat (only 10 minutes from Cannes) or helicopter, and there are no cars on Sainte-Marguerite.’
Ultima is collaborating with local specialists to restore the property’s historic features to their former splendour. The main Governor’s House, a turreted watchtower with a roof terrace and spectacular views, and a third ‘guest house’ building – all of which date back to the 13th century – make up Le Grand Jardin.
The Le Grand Jardin property will feature 11 bedrooms, including expansive suites in the Governor’s House and The Tower; multiple indoor and outdoor relaxation and dining areas; an organically filtered heated outdoor pool, an open-air cinema, and a spa; and an organically filtered heated outdoor pool, an open-air cinema, and a spa.
This one-of-a-kind 13th-century property is bordered by a 14,000-square-meter botanical park and guarded by Richelieu’s spectacular stone fort.
Landscaped walks bring tourists down to the estate’s botanic gardens, which are perfumed with roses, geraniums, and irises, and are surrounded by cypresses, palm trees, olive trees, fruit trees, and native flora.
Ultima’s chefs will be on hand to provide guests with custom farm-to-table food, ensuring a connection to nature and providing the home-away-from-home experience for which Ultima is known.
Byron Baciocchi, Co-Founder of Ultima Collection, has added: “Ultima Cannes signals the start of a new chapter for Ultima Collection. Sainte Marguerite’s historic offering is undeniably rare, which is why we did not hesitate in adding the property to our portfolio.
Before embarking on this monumental project, we knew we had a responsibility to preserve its historical elements while also bringing the property forward with our signature design and interiors. It’s turned into an eco-sanctuary that is even more special and can be enjoyed in complete privacy on the Cote d’Azur.”
The stunning blue waters off Le Grand Jardin are also home to British artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater sculpture garden (opened 2020), which depicts Easter Island-like heads of local people. One of the island’s two restaurants, La Guérite, is one of the most talked-about eating destinations on the Côte d’Azur.
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