Seasonal Property Management in Villefranche-sur-Mer (06230)

Villefranche-sur-Mer has one of the deepest natural harbours on the Mediterranean, framed by colourful Italianate facades that cascade down a near-vertical hillside. The Rade de Villefranche is a regular cruise ship anchorage, and the town's waterfront : with the 14th-century Chapelle Saint-Pierre decorated by Jean Cocteau : draws day-trippers from Nice year-round. Property here is spectacular but punishing to maintain. The terrain is so steep that some buildings are accessed from the roof level on the hill side and have five floors dropping to street level below. Deliveries require porters. Renovation materials go up (or down) by hand or small crane. American and British buyers have long favoured Villefranche for its postcard beauty and proximity to Nice (10 minutes). But the physical constraints are real: narrow medieval lanes, no vehicle access to many properties, and damp issues from the hillside drainage. The Basse Corniche road is the only coast road : one accident and the town is cut off.