Château des Ollières
Built in 1876 by Louis Baudet, a trader from Lyon, the Château des Ollières was completely redecorated in 1885 by architect Adam Dettloff, when it was bought by a Russian diplomat, Prince Lobanoff-Rostowsky, foreign affaires minister of Czar Nicolas II. Like many of his fellow Russians, this prince, decided to move to the Riviera. His intention might have been to follow the trend that made Nice the vacation capital for wealthy Russians, but he also had a relationship with a French lady, Madame Chevillot, wife of the French ambassador to Constantinople, who lived in the area.
Adam Dettloff, famous architect in Nice at the time, completely modified the spirit of the house and following the Prince’s wishes, created a Troubadour-Gothic style crossed with Moorish influences. Today the villa Leliwa in Nice, another of his works is still standing and is directly inspired by the Château des Ollières.
Renamed Château Elisabeth after the Second World War, the Château des Ollières is the last architectural “folly” of the Belle Epoque to remain today in its original state.
