Art Deco with a Mediterranean view

Some homes stand out from the rest - we visit Maison Mont St Clair at Sète

Special, unique, outstanding - sometimes estate agents' clichés don't go far enough...


We’re accustomed to visiting high quality homes - that’s our job. After all, we specialise in high end holiday rental villas and châteaux. From time to time, though, our experts find themselves lost for words, faced with a property which exceeds all expectations.

Sometimes the beauty, scope and grandeur of a building make it special. Perhaps the craftsmanship of a no expense spared renovation gains our admiration. Some houses have a secret history - there’s a tale to tell. Then there's the old standby - location, location, location.

Maison Mont Saint Clar is unique and stunning on all of these criteria. Built in the early twentieth century in a distinctive Art-Deco style, the house sits on Sète’s fashionable corniche. Its south-facing garden with its commanding views over the Mediterranean adds to the feeling of space and calm.

Photo: The south-facing terrace has unrivalled views over the Mediterranean

London-based owners, Don and Rosemary, bought the property in 2002. They’d seen it in a property magazine. It was the gabled roof line which initially attracted their attention.

"The place was basically intact, but a little neglected" says Don. So they set about renovating, scrupulously retaining the Art-Deco features.

It’s all there - the polished wood panelling, marble fireplace, stained glass, lovingly restored.

Of course, much is also new - modernised in keeping with the original. Kitchen and bathrooms reflect the best of today.

Photo: Owners Don and Rosemary


Photo: Polished wood sets the tone on the upper floors

Photo: The restored Art-Deco landing

Photo: Sympathetically restored, the salon includes a marble fireplace, decorated ceiling, stained glass

Photo: Bathrooms are fully modernised in keeping with the original architecture

The house was originally called Villa Thaïs after the opera by French composer, Massenet. Regularly used as a location for cinema and TV productions, it offers a faithful and convincing setting when they’re shooting period stories.

Don and Rosemary wanted to bring the house up to modern standards and visitors' expectations. They added a conservatory carefully tailoring it to the style of the house. Inside, they installed a swimming pool and jacuzzi which would do justice to any health spa.

Photo: Alongside the original house, Don and Rosemary have added a conservatory with indoor swimming pool...

Photo: ...and next to the pool, a jacuzzi

Just ten minutes’ walk away is the harbour at Sète, one of France’s most characterful and romantic coastal towns. Here ferries leave for Corsica and north Africa. It’s France’s second fishing port after Boulogne. In the evening, harbourside restaurants serve sea bream which landed an hour before.

Photo: Location, location, location - the harbour at Sète

Related links :

• http://www.purefrance.com/34447/holiday-rental-villa.php