Once again, for the world travelers who come to visit our site (thanks for that) we have another intriguing, perhaps “little known, but certainly worth the effort” activity for you. For us, one of the biggest thrills of travel is discovering “new” locations to broaden our horizons. As much as archaeology is interesting (and it truly is,) you can often find thrills of a more contemporary kind when you search for history. Remember that some think of history as the 1990’s. Not us. But we always treasure the opportunity to go back several more decades than that, during a time when arts and crafts and music and intelligent living were the goal. Our favourite period for that is the 1950’s. Mid-century Modern was the thing. Designers were on fire when it came to creativity and innovative uses of new and modern products (plywood, concrete, tiles) had that “wow” factor.
One such advocate of all of these aforementioned goals was the designer Eileen Grey. Not as well known as luminaries such as Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright and others, she made an effort to push the boundaries just as much as her contemporaries. So, Cap-Martin was the place to be if you wanted to soak in that creativity. Some of these vaunted buildings are open for visitors, but you’ll need to book. And, recently some of her work has been opened for the public to take in.
Even if you can’t gain access – there are only certain times during the year when that’s possible – that area is very much also about taking a long and luxurious walk to get your fill. So, to start, E-1027 is a modernist villa located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, in the south of France, near Monaco, created in collaboration with her partner, the Romanian architect Jean Badovici. In case you’re curious about the about villa’s “interesting” name, E-1027 is a code that represents the her children’s names, intertwined initials: “E” for Eileen and “J” for Jean, with “10” representing the tenth letter of the alphabet (J), and “2” and “7” representing the sequence of those letters in their respective names. Delightful. Do, make a point to visit this most beautiful area. And, did we mention that The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site? What more do you want?
Enjoy a full-day tour through the nearby Alps & ride a scenic train from Nice, passing by canyons, viaducts, and tunnels. Stop by picturesque villages and explore the hidden treasures of the Roya Valley. Bon! Click here.
Imagine waking to that view. Soutariba features sea views, free WiFi and free private parking, located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, 1 km from Buse Beach. The property has garden views and is 1.1 km from Golfe Bleu Beach and 2.3 km from Plage de Carnoles. Grimaldi Forum Monaco is 7.4 km from the bed and breakfast and Chapiteau of Monaco is 9 km away. Click here to book.