Our story

A villa in Antibes

In 1930 my grandmother lives in La Ruche, an artist's residence in the Montparnasse district of Paris, spending time with Chagall, Modigliani, Foujita, Léger, Soutine…

One day, she learns that a distant uncle, a former merchant ship captain, bequeathed his house to her. Nostalgic for her native Riviera, she decides to go back and turn this legacy, one of the first villas built on the Cap d'Antibes, into a guesthouse.

Sharing cheerful meals

For ten years she will host there her many Parisian friends: artists, poets, writers…, coming to draw inspiration and joie-de-vivre from the sun and the Mediterranean.

At the Villa, full board was provided. My great-grandmother ruled over the kitchen and delighted guests with local specialties. Owners of luxurious holiday mansions nearby, appreciative of the nonchalance of the place and the excellent food served, occasionally joined the party.

In a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, soon-to-be-famous painters, wealthy industrialists, factory workers on their first paid-holidays and antifascist activists on the run feasted together on catch-of-the-day Bouillabaisse, Provencal beef stew or home-grown vegetables prepared as Pesto soup or Nice-style Ratatouille.

Across generations

Many years have passed since those halcyon days, and at times darkness took over…

But in a land where the sun shines out clear over the sea, where cicadas sing all summer and winter is the season of mimosa blooming and olives harvesting, optimism is invincible and hope is reborn in every generation.

Renamed Karesema, meaning mimosa in Esperanto, our Villa is still standing for upbeat simplicity and joyful gastronomy; and our family is as ever dedicated to sharing the wonderful flavors of an enchanted region with extraordinary friends of all kinds.

Michel Mauran,
founder Villa Karesema