Parc du Cap brings a modern touch of Great Gatsby glamour to Cap d’Antibes

When F Scott Fitzgerald wrote: “When your eyes first fall upon the Mediterranean you know at once why it was here that man first stood erect and stretched out his arms toward the sun”, he was surely talking about Cap d’Antibes. A beautiful peninsula between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera, Antibes is most famous for Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, a playground of the rich and famous which inspired the author’s famous novel The Great Gatsby.

The town sits alongside the largest marina in Europe, Port Vauban Harbour, home to the famous Billionaires’ Row, which accommodates yachts of up to 165m – for comparison, Port Pierre Canto in Cannes only fits 70m boats, while Monaco’s Port Hercule’s maximum is 130m. As such, it’s a popular second-home destination for superyacht owners. But unlike Monte Carlo with its sky-high skyscrapers and sparkly casinos, Antibes has an historic charm that has long inspired artists and writers – visit Musée Picasso to discover works created by Pablo Picasso during his time here in 1946.

A walk through the old town’s narrow cobblestone streets reveals 16th-century fortifications, Michelin-star restaurants behind painted shutters, and market vendors selling fresh local produce. While it’s a welcome break from the see-and-be-seen vibe of some neighbouring towns, it’s not without its luxuries.

Parc du Cap, a residential condominium by luxury property developer Caudwell Collection, brings the glamour of Billionaires’ Row to Antibes’ residential heart. What makes this property special is how different it is from the grand villas and historic condominiums that make up the bulk of the peninsula’s property offerings. Instead it’s highly contemporary, with modern design features, state-of-the-art facilities and hotel-standard services.

“Caudwell Collection is synonymous with style and quality, and we wanted to create something not previously available on the Cap in terms of design, amenities and services – taking inspiration from some of the world’s leading cities,” says Matthew Murison, CEO of Provencal Investments. “Parc du Cap meets the growing trend and requirement for residences to offer exceptionally high standard add-on facilities and services, akin to that of a luxury hotel.”

A key feature of Parc du Cap is its fulltime security and concierge team which is always on hand to assist residents with everything from taxi booking to deliveries. But if you’d rather maintain privacy, underground parking lets you go straight from your car to your apartment without seeing a soul. During our trip to the property in June, our guide mentioned there was one woman who’s been staying for a couple of weeks but hasn’t been seen once, despite the fact that she’s been going in and out of the complex every day. >>

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For those less intent on solitude, the complex houses a number of facilities including a well-kitted-out gym, a communal outdoor pool, tennis courts and gardens, plus a spa with an indoor pool that’s heated in winter, sauna and steam and ice rooms, and treatment rooms – one call to the concierge and a local therapist can be booked to attend to you with as little as two hours’ notice. Also on the way is a concierge app that will enable residents to book extras such as turn-down services and dining, or even a dog walker.

The gated property contains eight one-bed apartments, 66 two-bed apartments, four three-bed apartments (which are already sold out), 10 four- bedroom penthouses with private rooftop pools and terraces, and two villas – at the time of going to print, around 35% were sold. We wre invited to enjoy a night in the master suite of a penthouse apartment and have to say that the highlight, along with the contemporary design and the giant rain shower, was the sheer amount of space – there were a number of indoor and outdoor entertaining areas, including a rooftop with 360° panoramas over the peninsula, where one can imagine Jay Gatsby throwing many a party.

Thanks to their unique design and features, apartments come with a price tag that’s on the higher end of the local market – one-beds are priced from €590,000 while four-bed penthouses start at €4.5m plus optional interior design packages. However, for someone looking for a second home with the level of luxury you’d expect from a five-star hotel, this could be a good fit.

As our flying visit to Antibes grew to a close, we found ourselves on the rooftop of our penthouse gazing over the landscape – a Medieval tower pokes its head up from between a blanket of trees and the ocean sparkles on the horizon in the distance – and found ourselves thinking: well, if you’ve already spent £250m+ on a 100m superyacht and a further £1m on a berth on Billionaires’ Row, what’s an extra £6m to see it from this perspective?

And, who knows, you may even find yourself rubbing shoulders with Caudwell Collection co-founder and billionaire bon viveur John Caudwell, himself the owner of one of the stunning penthouses at Parc du Cap – a mere 10-minute stroll from Juan-les-Pins bay where he keeps his 73m yacht Titania. His is a rags-to- riches story not totally dissimilar to Gatsby’s.