Villa de May

Villa de May stands in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a small town on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco, and ranks among the oldest surviving private residences on this stretch of coast.

When was the villa built, and who commissioned it?

Construction dates back to 1826, when Gaétan de May had the mansion erected as a private residence — the building still carries his name today. At that point the Beaulieu-sur-Mer shoreline had not yet turned into the fashionable winter retreat it would become later in the century, so Villa de May predates the wave of grand villas that European aristocrats and wealthy travelers built along the Riviera from the 1880s onward.

How did the villa end up under municipal ownership?

The property stayed in private hands for well over a century before the town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer bought it in 1967. Municipal ownership secured the building's future and set the stage for its later protection: on 25 January 1980, Villa de May was formally added to the monument historique register, France's official designation for state-protected heritage sites. Once listed, any restoration or structural work on the building requires approval from heritage authorities, which helps explain why the mansion has retained much of its original character.

What is the villa used for today?

Rather than being kept purely as a museum piece, the mansion has been repurposed as a music school — these days it is home to a conservatory. Beaulieu-sur-Mer therefore offers visitors the rare combination of a 19th-century residence that still serves an active civic role, with students and classes filling rooms that might otherwise sit empty. This pattern — protecting a historic shell while giving it a working, everyday function — is fairly common along the Riviera, where towns have found practical ways to keep old buildings in daily use rather than sealing them off as static exhibits.

Where exactly is Villa de May located?

The mansion sits within Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, at coordinates 43.7038 N, 7.32793 E. It shares the town with a cluster of other period residences that give Beaulieu-sur-Mer its reputation as one of the quieter, more understated stops on the Riviera, a short drive from the busier resorts of Nice and Monaco.

Frequently asked questions

When was Villa de May built? It was constructed in 1826 for Gaétan de May.

When did the town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer acquire the villa? The municipality bought the building in 1967.

Is Villa de May a protected monument? Yes — it has been listed as a monument historique since 25 January 1980.

What does the building house now? It currently serves as a music conservatory, hosting classes for local students.