On the Market
Grace Kelly getaway on the market in the South of France for $13 million
An historic estate in Provençe that movie star royal Grace Kelly frequented is on the market for $12.92 million. Located in the village of Gilette, about 45 minutes from Nice, Les Moulins du Villars started out as a collection of mills on the banks of the Estéron River, some of which date to the 14th century.
In the 1970s, the remaining structures fell into the hands of Count Jean Fernand Joseph Gouin de Roumilly, who transformed them into a hot spot for French-speaking high society. Kelly visited Villars for the first time in 1980, bringing her daughter Caroline and Prince Louis de Polignac, godfather to her son, Albert II. She returned several times in the last years of her life, often bearing gifts, including several statues that remain there today.
In the early 1990s new owners restored the 5.19-acre property’s stone walls and transformed the landscaping. Then, in 2010, the current owners oversaw a complete overhaul of the main villa, a former olive oil mill. Only the exterior walls were untouched, and to protect against earthquakes a reinforced concrete caisson was added inside the building’s 30-inch stone walls. The renovation also enlarged the home’s 40-plus double-glazed windows.
Today, Les Moulins du Villars has nearly nearly 6,500 square feet of living space. Connected by elevator, the main house’s four floors house seven bedrooms, two kitchens, and a media room. The spacious living and dining areas are linked by an antique mill wheel encased in glass. Additional outbuildings include a two-room guest house, a four-car garage, a large greenhouse, bird coops, and the Sanctuary, a semirestored ruin dating from ancient Rome used for parties and other events.
Côte d’Azur Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.