Perched above the Bay of Cannes in Théoule-sur-Mer, where the red rocks of the Estérel descend toward the Mediterranean, Propriété Guerguy presents a rare opportunity to bring a trophy Côte d’Azur address back to life. Once the celebrated Hôtel Guerguy, an intimate 14-room hotel whose restaurant earned two Michelin stars, the estate now benefits from an approved project to create a single private residence of approximately 1,500 square meters (16,146 square feet).
Spanning 8,378 square meters of private grounds, the property overlooks the Mediterranean, the Lérins Islands, and the Massif de l’Estérel. Behind it, more than 12 hectares of immediately adjoining land are classified as non-constructible, creating a protected natural backdrop and preserving the estate’s sense of separation.
Listed at €8.5 million, the sale is being led by Robert Nowak of Leggett International Real Estate. Before moving into Côte d’Azur real estate in 2018, Nowak spent three decades in the global IT services industry, including senior roles with Accenture and Cisco, where his career centered on professional services delivery, consulting, and large-scale client engagements. Today, he applies the same analytical and consultative discipline to real estate, helping clients navigate complex transactions, assess opportunities objectively, and make informed decisions grounded in facts, not sales pressure.
Propriété Guerguy: A Celebrated Past and a Private Future
Few properties on the Côte d’Azur combine a documented gastronomic legacy with an approved pathway to a private residence of this scale, and Propriété Guerguy offers both.
From Villa La Chimère to a Grand Private Residence
The story of the property begins in 1935, when it was built as Villa La Chimère. In 1957, the young chef Lucien Guerguy acquired it and transformed it into Hôtel Guerguy, a 14-room hotel and restaurant overlooking the sea. The hotel was awarded four stars during the 1960s, and the restaurant subsequently earned its first Michelin star in 1970, then a second in 1972, establishing Guerguy among the recognized gastronomic addresses of the Côte d’Azur.
Contemporary reviews confirm its standing. Writing in Le Monde in 1972, gastronomic columnist La Reynière described the second star as more than justified and praised Guerguy as a wise and modest chef. In 1975, he reported that local gourmets considered Guerguy’s bourride the finest on the coast, enhanced by the restaurant’s sweeping sea views. The hotel’s 67-page Livre d’Or adds further color, with names such as Pierre Cardin, Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte Rampling, Jean-Michel Jarre, and other notable figures among its pages.
The neighborhood also carries a rich hospitality heritage. Nearby, the Château de la Galère served as the kitchen of Raymond Oliver, the pioneering French television chef with his show “Art et Magie de la Cuisine” which was broadcast from 1954 to 1967. In the 1960s, Château de la Galère was replaced with Jacques Couëlle’s distinctive Port la Galère luxury residence, leaving Hôtel Guerguy to maintain the region’s gastronomic heritage and reputation.
After Lucien Guerguy passed away in 1988, the hotel closed, and the property gradually fell silent.
* Architectural visualization of the approved project
Its next chapter has been shaped over almost 20 years by architect Maurice Azoulay, working closely with the owner. Several directions were studied for the site, including a hotel project and various residential schemes, before a final design was agreed with the planning department of Théoule-sur-Mer. The approved project transforms the estate into a single private residence of approximately 1,500 square meters, combining the rehabilitation of around 1,200 square meters of existing structure with a carefully conceived extension of approximately 300 square meters. The property can no longer operate as a hotel and cannot be divided into apartments.
* Architectural visualization of the approved project
The existing buildings require complete rehabilitation, and the architecture is designed to honor what came before. According to Azoulay, the project retains the authentic Provençal character of the original building while adding a resolutely contemporary volume fully integrated into the site.
* Architectural visualization of the approved project
The interiors remain open to interpretation, allowing the next owner to shape the living spaces around their own lifestyle, with adaptations possible within the approved framework and applicable rules. Azoulay has also confirmed his willingness to accompany the future owner through the construction stage, offering continuity for international buyers who do not currently have an established network of architects and contractors on the Côte d’Azur.
Cliffside Pool, Terraced Gardens, and Protected Panoramas
Outside, the approved plans pair the residence with high-quality landscaping, with traditional restanque terraces stepping down the hillside. A large infinity swimming pool is built into the cliffside, mirroring the Mediterranean Sea, and is ideally positioned to frame its sea and mountain views.
* Architectural visualization of the approved project
The estate’s 8,378 square meters of private land provide a degree of separation and scale rarely found along the increasingly dense Côte d’Azur coastline. From this elevated position, the panorama stretches from the Massif de l’Estérel across the Mediterranean toward the Bay of Cannes and the Lérins Islands.
Beyond the property boundary, more than 12 hectares of adjoining woodland, separately owned and not part of the sale, extend the sense of space, with the protected hills of Théoule and the Estérel rising further behind. The result is a private domain approaching one hectare, experienced against a natural backdrop many times larger.
Théoule-sur-Mer: The Bay of Cannes’ Most Protected Corner
On the western edge of the Bay of Cannes, Théoule-sur-Mer pairs an untamed coastline with swift access to the Côte d’Azur’s major hubs.
Between the Estérel and the Mediterranean
Théoule-sur-Mer occupies a distinctive corner of the Côte d’Azur, where the signature red-rock formations of the Estérel meet deep blue water, small coves punctuate the shoreline, and forested hills rise directly behind the sea. The Massif de l’Estérel is recognized for its Mediterranean habitats, flora, and fauna, and is subject to the Natura 2000 framework on both land and sea, a level of protection that makes residences of comparable scale increasingly difficult to create.
Despite its natural seclusion, the location remains well connected. Cannes is around 15 minutes away by car, and Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport is approximately 40 minutes away, linking the region with major European and international destinations. Cannes’ Palais des Festivals, Cannes-Mandelieu Airport, the Mougins International School, the Sophia Antipolis Technology Park, Nice, Monaco, and other Côte d’Azur landmarks are all within easy reach.
Market Trends in Théoule-sur-Mer and the Côte d’Azur
The Côte d’Azur remains one of the world’s most sought-after prime property destinations. In JamesEdition’s Global Prime Market Index 2025, published in January 2026, the region ranked third among 38 global destinations, with a Demand Scale score of 91.
With environmental protection limiting new development and large private plots increasingly scarce, an estate combining sea views, substantial land, and an approved residential project stands out within this tightly held market.
Propriété Guerguy: The Next Chapter on the Côte d’Azur
Propriété Guerguy offers a rare combination of almost a century of Côte d’Azur history, nearly one hectare of private land, a protected natural setting, and an approved project for a 1,500-square-meter private residence. With years of architectural and planning work already completed and the original architect available to guide the next phase, it represents a compelling opportunity for a buyer seeking to create a residence on a grand scale, conceived entirely around their own vision.
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