France – and especially the South of France – has been welcoming the rich, famous and royalty for more than 100 years. There is just so much to enjoy about the country including the wide open rural spaces, the ambience, amazing food, fantastic wines great culture and of course, its people.
The rich and famous from around the globe enjoy relaxing downtime in France and not surprisingly a number of famous American celebrities have bought homes in France, where they can relax and enjoy the slower, French way of life. Needless to say, the South of France because of its gorgeous climate is the popular place of all.
Many American celebrities love to visit France regularly and have specific locations where they love to stay while in France.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
A few years ago Brad and Angelina bought the beautiful Château Miraval estate, which is situated in the village of Correns in the Var region in 2008 and were married there in 2014. It is certainly a stunning estate and it cost the couple €25 million. It has its own lake, vineyards, two swimming pools and a recoding studio.
Prior to the couple purchasing the château, it had been a favorite haunt amongst celebs and rented by a number of rock bands. The Miraval’s claim to fame is that Pink Floyd recorded ‘The Wall’ in the studios there.
The couple had promised each other that they would never sell their share of the estate without the other’s knowledge. But in February 2022, after the couple had split, Brad Pitt filed a lawsuit as Jolie was said to have sold her share to a Luxembourg-based Spirits producer. Brad Pitt was particularly angry as he had sunk a great deal of time and money into the estate. It was reported on 23 July 2022 that Angelina Jolie had won the court case.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner the popular singer and actress who is nicknamed the ‘Queen of Rock’ has a gorgeous hill-top villa in France in Villefranche-sur-Mer – a particularly sought after town in the South of France. Tina Turner was attracted by the area’s rich history that dates from Roman times and because her beautiful villa offers panoramic views as it nestles between Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. She refers to the villa as ‘my refuge’.
Tina Turner bought her French villa in 2004. The house certainly portrays the flamboyance of its owner as there is a sunken amphitheatre on the front terrace. Turner drives to the villa regularly from her primary residence in Switzerland. One of her main pastimes while she is in Villefranche-sur-Mer is star gazing. In 1995, Tina Turner was awarded honorary citizenship of Villefranche-sur-Mer by the town’s mayor.
In her article, Judith Turner describes how Tina Turner has completely transformed the villa and filled it with many beautiful pieces of French furniture. ‘Every major room of the multilevel villa, which was designed by architect Bruno Guistini, opens to a patio or balcony where one can dine, sunbathe or lounge—that is, after all, the point of living atop a cliff on the Riviera’.
Robert De Niro & George Clooney at Bono’s mansion
Bono and David Howell Evans who is better known as ‘Edge’ are both members of the rock band U2. In 1993, they bought a beautiful beach front mansion in Eze-sur-Mer in the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. Bono’s mansion is reported to have had a price tag of €3.8 million. Since then, their luxurious and secluded spot has been a haven for many American celebs including Robert De Niro and George Clooney.
Bradley Cooper
This popular American actor and film-maker speaks excellent French as he spent six months in Aix-en-Provence as an exchange student. He and his family visit the South of France every summer. He is particularly fond of Villa La Coste in Provence which is a contemporarily styled villa and spa with 28 suites and amazing views over the local countryside.
A Paris hideaway for celebs
An unimposing frontage with large red front door in Rue Tronchet, in the city’s 8th arrondissement is the discreet leisure hideaway in Paris for many American celebs. Behind the front door of Hotel Le Pourtales there are nine luxurious apartments. The apartments are situated in a listed building and have been used by celebs from the States and other countries, since 2010. There are twenty members of staff, including a talented chef.
The apartments can be rented for short breaks or long, from just a few nights to several weeks. The rental prices range from about €2,000 a night to €15,000 for the stunning Sky Penthouse, which is situated on the top two floors of this seven floor building.
Among the American stars who have recently stayed at Le Pourtales are Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna, Prince, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jay-Z with wife Beyonce.
The most recent guests were the Kardashians. The apartments cannot be reserved online, they can only be booked by ‘word of mouth’.
Neighbors in the street did not even know that the apartments were visited by celebrities until there was a robbery when the Kardashians were staying there. Kim Kardashian is also said to have flown to the Hotel Costes on several occasions because she enjoys eating the cheesecake served at this luxury hotel.
Interestingly, Leonardo DiCaprio also spends time in the South of France. He is an actor and philanthropist and his charity foundation has an annual event that is hosted at the Domain Belieu vineyard to raise money for wildlife and environmental causes. Jay-Z and Beyonce performed a gig in Nice as the couple love staying in this city too.
Two other locations in the capital that are popular with American celebrities are The Reserve Paris, not far from the Trocadero, and Royal Monceau.
