Rothschild Villa & Gardens – French Story & Translation & Video

Author: GeneviĂšve

Practice your French with this intermediate level French English bilingual story. Discover the magnificent villa and gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild, near Nice on the French Riviera.

1- The Villas of The French Riviera

Use the floating blue icon in the bottom right to hide/reveal the English translations below or just click here.

Tout au long de la CĂŽte d’Azur entre Cannes et Menton, s’élĂšvent de nombreuses demeures de rĂȘve, les unes plus originales et sophistiquĂ©es que les autres.

All along the Riviera, between Cannes and Menton, rise many beautiful palaces, one more original and sophisticated than the other.

Il est vrai que l’arrivĂ©e du chemin de fer dans le dĂ©but des annĂ©es 1900, marque le coup d’envoi d’une mode, oĂč l’on vient des quatre coins de la planĂšte se faire construire sa villa personnelle. On essaie, bien entendu, d’ĂȘtre encore plus extravagant que son voisin.

It is true that the arrival of the railroad in the early years of the 20th century marked the kickoff of a trend, where people from all over the planet had their own villa built. Everybody trying, of course, to be even more extravagant than their neighbor.

2 – The Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa

Il en est une que vous ne devez en aucun cas ignorer, lors de votre passage ; c’est la villa et les jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild.

There is one that you must in no case miss out, when you visit the region : the villa and gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Son architecture néo-renaissance peut vous paraßtre à premiÚre vue quelque peu déconcertante.

 The Neo-Renaissance architecture may seem at first sight somewhat disconcerting.

BĂ©atrice, tel est le prĂ©nom de sa conceptrice, a voulu rĂ©unir dans un mĂȘme lieu tout ce qu’elle avait aimĂ© et collectionnĂ© au cours de ses nombreux voyages : colonnades mĂ©diĂ©vales « flirtent Â» avec une architecture vĂ©nitienne et florentine.

 Beatrice, the name of the designer and owner, wanted to gather together in one place all the things she had loved and acquired during her many travels, ‹Medieval colonnades flirt with Venetian and Florentine architecture

learn french in context bilingual story villa Rotchild

Amoureuse également du XVIIIe siÚcle, la Baronne y réunit une impressionnante collection de meubles, tableaux et porcelaine de cette époque.

.Amateur of the eighteenth century, the Baroness also assembled a huge collection of furniture, paintings and porcelain of that era.

3 – Amazing Gardens of the Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa

Mais le joyau de cette demeure reste à mon sens l’extraordinaire parc qui l’entoure.

But the jewel of this place, for my part, is the extraordinary surrounding park.

SituĂ© sur la presqu’üle de Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, ce terrain n’était Ă  l’origine qu’un promontoire rocailleux balayĂ© par les vents. Il aura sans aucun doute fallu, pour rĂ©aliser un tel travail titanesque, la tĂ©nacitĂ© et l’excentricitĂ© de BĂ©atrice. En amĂ©nageant le parc de cette villa nommĂ©e « Ile de France Â», la baronne de Rothschild a tentĂ© de reconstituer l’atmosphĂšre d’un pont de bateau. Pari largement gagnĂ© car on peut apercevoir la MĂ©diterranĂ©e Ă  bĂąbord comme Ă  tribord.

 â€šLocated on the peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, this piece of land was basically a rocky windswept headland. To achieve such a titanic work it was without any doubt necessary to possess Beatrice’s tenacity and eccentricity. By landscaping the park of the villa named “Ile de France”, the Baroness de Rothschild, tried to recreate the atmosphere of a boat deck. A gamble that paid off because you can see the Mediterranean on the port side as well as on the starboard side.

learn french in context bilingual story villa Rotchild

De part et d’autre se succĂšdent 9 jardins, vĂ©ritable promenade autour du monde.

On both sides there is a succession of nine gardens that procure you a true stroll around the globe.

4 – The Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa Video

Voici une vidĂ©o prise par Camille pendant qu’elle Ă©tait en vacances dans la rĂ©gion pour vous donner un petit apperçu de cette merveille !

Here is a video taken by Camille when she was on vacation in the region to give you a little glimpse of this wonder!

5 – Bonus! La Villa KĂ©rylos Ă  Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat

If you enjoy learning French in context, check out French Today’s downloadable French audiobooks: French Today’s bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on today’s modern glided pronunciation. 

Author: GeneviĂšve

GeneviĂšve

My name is GeneviĂšve and I live in Nice on the sunny French Riviera, "la CĂŽte d'Azur".

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