Head for the hills and stars

The French Riviera is home to the rich and the famous.

The French Riviera has long provided a playground for the world's wealthiest celebrities. In the 19th Century, European and British aristocrats flocked to these shores, especially during the winter months, and from the turn of the 20th Century writers and artists, and then musicians and film actors, were drawn to the Côte d'Azur. Little has changed and today the 21st Century's biggest stars continue to find sun and fun, or indeed serenity and privacy, in this small corner of paradise. What's more, some fall so in love with the region that a holiday simply isn't enough: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, U2, Tina Turner, Roman Abramovic, Danielle Steel and the French president are among numerous superstars who have their own luxury residences in the region.
Perhaps most famously in recent years, Hollywood royalty Pitt and Jolie leased Château Miraval in the tiny village of Correns in the Var. Yet some time before the couple arrived in the area fellow A-lister Depp and his French partner, Paradis, had already settled on the Var as the location for their family's primary home. Then you have Bono and the Edge, who for nearly two decades now have been snapped by the Papa-razzi strolling up and down their private beach in Eze-sur-Mer. Turner too has long been a part-time resident in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Elton John ditto in Nice.
Obviously, with money no object, there is nothing stopping the world's most famous people from having their pick of the French Riviera's most desirable addresses. This month, The Riviera Times will reveal those special spots that have been chosen by those people who could live literally anywhere they wanted on earth. We will show you that these are not locations exclusively for the famous: we can reach for the stars too.
Depp’s slice of Paradise
Plan de la Tour is a small village, around half-an-hour from Saint-Tropez, best known for its star residents: Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.
Francophile Depp bought his idyllically located villa seven years ago from a German family for a moderate 850,000 euros.
The Hollywood actor and French actress-singer are a notoriously private couple but still they are often seen out and about in the village, buying their fruit and veg at the local Thursday market or relaxing in the café in the main square. With a population of just 2000 people, they never get hassled by residents and can blend in like any other family. It is for this reason that low key Depp loves it there so much, once pointing out that he can go for a coffee with Paradis, chat casually to the locals and not be constantly looking over his shoulder for the Paparazzi.

The Var village is perfectly located, being only a few kilometres away from Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Tropez and surrounded by peaceful forests and the Maures mountains. Depp and Paradis' estate itself is seemingly understated from the outside but once through the front door one finds an exclusive, luxury abode.
DEPP’s master bedroom even has its own swimming pool. The couple has 50 acres on which their daughter and son can ride their ponies. They also have a chapel within their grounds.
The American fell in love with France in 1998 whilst he was shooting The Ninth Gate.  Around the same time he fell in love with the French nation's sweetheart as well. Depp has more than once stated that the French way of life has allowed him to bring up his children in a simple and calm environment. He has also said that he adores the sunrise, the trees and the countryside in Plan de la Tour.
In Plan de la Tour a modern 3-bed villa, 100m2 habitable area with garden and swimming pool or residents' pool, in satisfactory condition: 600,000 euros

Brangelina’s 1000 acres
In 2008 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie leased Château Miraval, a 40 million euro estate in the village of Correns in the Var.  
The 35-bedroom château has a vineyard, lake, 30 fountains, 13 olive groves and  outdoor and indoor swimming pools. It also has a recording studio in which the likes of Pink Floyd, Sting and Sade have made albums.
The couple originally took the property on a three year lease-to-own deal and it seems, now that the contract is up, that they intend to make it a permanent base for their  family. They have recently spent over 10 million euros  on transforming the château into their dream home.
Situated at an altitude of 350 metres and extending across 1,000 acres in total, the property is approached down a long winding lane. Surrounded by a moat and dense foliage, it is a perfect hideaway for one of the most watched couples in the world,.
Correns itself sits on the banks of the Argens river and bills itself as 'the number one organic village in France' which no doubt suits healthy LA types like Pitt and Jolie. Other than that, the place has little to offer beyond a quaint village scene. There are only a few tourist sights, a single café and basic shops to meet the needs of inhabitants. Its main produce is wine and Château Miraval itself has been selected as 'one of France's top 500 wine producers' by Guide Hachette.
If the scene in Correns isn't buzzing enough then 10 kilometres south is Brignoles, a large market town known for its peaches, honey, olives and olive oil.
A modern 3-bed villa in Correns (as Plan de la Tour): 300,000 euros

The best of the Côte for Tina
As Villefranche's most famous resident, 'Queen of rock', Tina Turner, looks down over the common folk from her high security property in the gated estate of Le Castellet on the hillside above the bay.
From Tina's Villa Anna Fleur, there is no question of an obscured view of the landscape, and the sprawling scene witnessed from her terrace is simply the best. The pad itself isn't bad either with its mini-castle turret and extensive grounds full of Grecian columns, grand stairways and acres of green lawn. And no pop star's home would be complete without an infinity pool, of course.
Turner is said to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer at least once a month, finding there a precious oasis of calm. And she is not alone: Jean Cocteau, Errol Flynn, William Burroughs and the Rolling Stones are just some of the celebrities who have spent time in the tiny fishing village in the past. In recent years John Travolta and Lance Armstrong have been spotted enjoying the picturesque port and old town.
Yet despite the star presence, and countless cruise ships taking advantage of the bay's deep waters, Villefranche has maintained its own character, with few tacky tourist shops and glitz-tastic bars and clubs.
All in all, the town is rather low-key and peaceful and even though she lives high above the village, Turner is fond of a stroll around the little alleyways and is often spotted at restaurants soaking up the Provençal atmosphere.
A modern 3-bed villa in Villefranche-sur-Mer: one million euros plus

Elton’s ‘Hollywood in Nice’
Above the hectic hustle and bustle of Nice, sits a chic and exclusive residential area that begins to rise up the hill just beyond the city's old port and continues along the coast towards Villefranche-sur-Mer. It is here, in the quartiers of Mont Boron and Mont Alban, that Elton John and his husband David Furnish have made (one of) their home(s).
The views of Nice and of the ocean from here are remarkable so it’s no wonder that billionaire John chose a spot atop of Mont Alban for his incredible villa, with its pale yellow façade, beautiful terrace and pool.
On the summit of the neighbouring Mount Boron is a heavily wooded, protected national park. Its residential areas are full of ivy-covered villas. Aside from John, several other famous folk own homes here, as well as major international business figures. Unsurprisingly the district has a luxurious, peaceful environment with plenty of open space and secure parking.
If you fancy a pad in the 'Hollywood of Nice' then be prepared to spend big: properties can often come on the market with price tags in the region of five million euros. Many of the most desirable villas date back to the Belle Epoque or early 20th Century and have beautiful period features and views all along the coast as far as Cannes.
For those who like the idea of an exclusive address without paying the exclusive prices that Elt and co. can afford then there are more inexpensive apartments in purpose built blocks dating from 1950s to modern day.
A modern 3-bed villa in Mont Boron 700,000 euros.

Èze does it Bono
Thanks to their co-owned luxury mansion in Èze-sur-Mer, Bono and The Edge, have been playing host to A-listers on the French Riviera since 1993. That was the year when the U2 duo splashed out a reported 3.8 million euros on the coral coloured 20-room villa conveniently located next to their own private beach and private island, on which they keep their spa and pool.
Perfectly located between the buzzing urban hub of Nice and the old school glamour of Monte Carlo, Èze-sur-Mer and  Èze village directly above it are understandably popular spots for the rich and famous. John Lennon's son, Julian, also owns a villa there.
Having a beachfront property means the Irish rock stars can better maintain their privacy, although Bono is still often snapped strolling up and down the shore or out in the water on his yacht. The Paparazzi also tend to hang about when the musicians have fellow celebs over: Brad and Angelina stayed during her pregnancy in 2008, Robert de Niro has also been a guest as has George Clooney, Cindy Crawford, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and Queen Rania of Jordan.
These days the locals in the small commune are unfazed about meeting two of the world’s biggest rock stars in the streets of the village. Then again Èze, which is a popular tourist site and world famous for its views of the sea, has had its fair share of famous faces over the last couple of centuries, from Walt Disney to Friedrich Nietzsche (who has a footpath named in his honour).
A modern 3-bed villa in Èze-sur-Mer: 700,000 euros
Hannah Marshall