Day 1665 (Wednesday) 29th December 2021

I had a message from Florence in Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat last night telling me not to go for our class on Wednesday because she has Covid and so do her two daughters Oceane and Claree – poor buggers – I think they have to self-isolate for 17 days.

Huw went up to the apartment this morning to finish it off and I did some housework in our place and the sun was shining once more. After lunch we got on Kisbee, dropped some stuff off at the apartment and headed to Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat.

Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat

Arid and rocky land, the hamlet of Saint-Jean was once home to fishermen and farmers families clustered around the church and harbour area. The Compaigne Generale des Eaux (water company) created an artificial lake on Cap-Ferrat which developed a dense and varied vegetation on the peninsula. The wealthy families from Nice began to frequent the peninsula for their outings and from the end of the 19th century, crowded heads and foreign aristocracy came for their vacation. The history of Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat was on its way.

The key dates

6th century – the legend of the hermit Hospitius is born (more info coming)

11th century – construction of the Saint-Hospice chapel and the Saint Jean-Baptiste church

17th century – construction of a military fort on Pointe Saint-Hospice; destruction in 1706 by order of Louis X1V.

1732 – construction of the Cap-Ferrat lighthouse

1840 – 1876 – construction of the old port

1862 – construction of a semaphore under Napoleon 111

Late 19th century – creation of an artificial lake by the Compaignie Generales des Eaux in the Cap.

Opening of the first hotel (currently La Voile d’Or) in the borough and development of winter tourism on the French Riviera.

1904 – once a hamlet of Villefranche-sur-Mer the town became independent under the name of Saint-Jean-sur-Mer. Opening of the first luxury hotel (current Hotel Royal-Riviera.

1907 – the borough takes the name of Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat

1909 opening of the Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat

1914 – 1918 – conversion of the great estates into war hospitals – the Belgian military cemetery is created.

1933 – legacy of the Ile de France villa (currently the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild) at the Academie des Beaux-Arts.

1949 - reconstruction of the lighthouse destroyed by the Germans in 1944

1950 – Jean Cocteau’s stay at the Villa Santo Sospir. Development of summer tourism with the arrival of many films, fashion, arts and literature personalities. Roger Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Charlotte Saloman, Edith Pilaf, Henri Matisse and Tony Curtis to name a few

1972 – creation of the new port

2003 – opening of the Seashell Museum

2004 – the borough centenary

2007 – inauguration of the Coexist fountains

L’eglise saint Jean-Baptisite

This creche is in the church

and this is outside

 

This church should date from the 11th century, it’s a very simple church but features beautiful decorations. Two extensions have taken place during the 19th century and in 1846 the presbytery was built. The major restoration works between 1992 and 1998 gradually gave the monument its finished appearance that we can admire today. Every year on the 24th June the whole village celebrates its Patron Saint’s day by organising a procession that involves carrying the statue of Saint Jean-Baptiste down to the jetty at the old harbour.

The old port

It is around the port with its fishing activities a vital source to the village that Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat will arise and develop. The old port where the current Lindbergh quay is located, was built by the prisoners of Villefranche-sur-Mer jail between 1840 and 1876. There are shops and a restaurant, the Charlie Chaplin events hall, the Seashell museum and the SOS Grand Bleu Association. 

In 1972 the new port was created. It was renovated between 2016 and 2018. It can now accommodate 560 permanent and passing boats. The shopping quay, called Quai Virgile Allari is ideal for strolling and relaxing. There are restaurants, shops and art galleries as well as the Espace Neptune where exhibitions, concerts and other events are regularly presented.

The new port

Le Musee des Coquillages (Seashell Museum) this was closed but we will definitely visit when it’s open.

It’s a chance for visitors to discover or rediscover the Mediterranean’s largest current collection of shells, with some 7,000 exhibit, including 400 world record-holding shells as well as an exceptional collection of exotic shells. The visit starts with a 6-minute film followed by an exhibition of 33 display cabinets with a chance to observe some micro shells with the aid of binoculars. 

COEXIT fountains – we have seen these many times but didn’t know what they were…

These two fountains, one at the lighthouse foot and the other at the beginning of the Saint-Hospice trail, were inaugurated in September 2007 in the presence of James Kidner , the director of the COEXIST Foundation, as well as Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and the singer Bono from U2. The COEXIST Foundation coexist logo consisting of the Muslim Crescent, the Jewish Star of David and the Christian Cross, works to build relationships between different religions.

Sightseeing done we went to have a look at the Christmas market, well it wasn’t really a market, more of a funfair for the kids

We had some fun watching the dodgems and enjoying a vin chaud in the sun

Huw called it a new auto l’ecole and explains why the French are such bad drivers.

When you sit in this chair, the Santa dances

Huw got a message saying that the new guests were going to be late so we went home for an hour before he had to go back out to check them in. 

Time for more cats

It wasn’t me, honest