La Turbie : at the gateway to Monaco

A commune on the Côte d’Azur known for the surprising “Trophée des Alpes” which overlooks it, La Turbie proposes a much more affordable alternative to the property market in Monaco, even though it is so close. The ideal address for people working in the Principality.

At an altitude of over 500 metres above sea level, on the promontory called “La Tête de Chien”, La Turbie offers first and foremost a stunning view of the Côte d’Azur stretching from the Italian coast to the Estérel hills. This pleasant, friendly village with close on 3,500 residents then has a remarkable architectural heritage, starting with the “Trophée des Alpes” (built in 7-6 B.C. by the Roman Emperor Augustus), the remains of medieval ramparts and the Church of Saint-Michel (1764). The commune also enjoys a full array of all the necessary shops and amenities, and closeness to the A8 motorway, linking it to Nice in only 20 minutes. Finally, La Turbie benefits from the liveliness of the neighbouring town of Monaco.

“Which is certainly not negligeable in terms of employment,” says Jeannette Smith, manageress of Aime Immo, an agency opened in 2008 covering this active sector, Eze, Peille, and occasionally as far as Menton or Mont Boron (in Nice). “Especially since, after the Monégasques (residents of Monaco), people living on communes bordering on the Principality (La Turbie, Cap d’Ail, Beausoleil and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin) are particularly privileged if they work in Monaco.” For apartments, the price per sq. metre ranges from 3,000 € in the old village of La Turbie to over 6,000 € in new residences, with an average of about 4,000 € per sqm. “For village houses, one can expect to pay from 3,500 to 4,000 € per sqm, while detached houses cost from 5,000 € to 8,500 € per sqm. depending on the view and appointments.” The agency’s portfolio contains properties ranging from 200,000 to 15 million euros, though the major­ity of sales fall into the 300,000 to 1.5 million euro bracket. “Today, 60 % of our clientele consists of foreigners. Hardly surprising, given the warm welcome they receive from the locals. I’m German and my husband is English, and we will never forget the way we were welcomed here.”

Anne Rodelato is the owner of the Agence Saint-Michel, an agency founded in 1964, mainly covering La Turbie, but also Cap-d’Ail, Beausoleil, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Peille, sometimes even the back-country near Monaco : “Our clients, also often foreigners, are mostly people working in the Principality, drawn by the much lower prices posted in La Turbie. We even receive enquiries from owners of small apartments in Monaco who want to acquire a villa in La Turbie as a second residence”. By way of example, a semi-detached villa of over 100 m2 with a garden of 300 m2 and a view of the sea, recently sold for 670,000 €, and a Provençal house of 130 m2 in grounds of 1,500 m2 with a pool, currently on offer at 850,000 €. Another illustration : a property comprised of lovely grounds laid out on wide terraces with a large pool and a villa of 190 m2, up for sale at 1,650,000 €. “We also have a building plot of 900 m2 for sale at 690,000 €. Though the price will certainly be the subject of some bargaining. Just like that of all properties, as negotiating is currently the order of the day. That said, Monaco’s vitality tends to limit any real slide in values.”