Villa Egerton, French Riviera

On the coast at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the Villa Egerton might be the hottest newcomer on the Côte d'Azur for this season - it opens on 1 May 2013 - but it's got a long, rich history. Built during the Belle Epoque, the villa had its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, when it hosted guests including Coco Chanel and Greta Garbo, Dalí and Man Ray, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, who snoozed away summers in the shady gardens and partied, well, all over the place.

 

Now it has been revamped and is available to rent, and it's still equipped for some of the best parties on the French Riviera. Outside spaces include al fresco kitchen/dining areas, pool terrace and bar, hot tub, and gardens with views of the glittering Med.

Inside there's a secret bar disguised behind a bookcase in the library; plus three living rooms and a grand dining hall, as well as a private cinema and its own wine cellar. Additional butlers, housekeepers (can't imagine Hemingway making his own bed), chefs etc all come as optional. Invite your most entertaining friends and tell them they've got a lot to live up to.

For more details contact Villa Egerton ( www.villaegerton.com)