Beaulieu-sur-Mer was inhabited in prehistoric times; a port was built by Ligurians before Romans took over the site.
The area was part of the commune of Villefranche-sur-Mer until mid-1891, when the French Parliament voted in favour of the bill allowing for the separation following local support and a positive recommendation from the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes. The first municipal elections were held on 20 September 1891 after President Sadi Carnot signed the bill into law the preceding 23 July.
The commune was renamed Beaulieu-sur-Mer from Beaulieu in 1908; the name has previously been changed from the Italian name Belloloco in 1860, after the incorporation of the County of Nice into France.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, it became a popular destination for the international elite in the winter season. Tourism helped the commune develop economically, as it welcomed writer Leo Tolstoy, civil engineer Gustave Eiffel, publisher James Gordon Bennett Jr., composer Igor Stravinsky, as well as other personalities and monarchs from major European countries.[3]
Beaulieu-sur-Mer in 1909
View from the heights of town
Today Beaulieu-sur-Mer is renowned as a Mediterranean resort village with quality marina facilities. It is also known for its the Villa Kerylos, built between 1902 and 1908 following the plans of architect Emmanuel Pontremoli.
Geography
With a territory of 0.92 km2 (0.36 sq mi), Beaulieu-sur-Mer is the smallest commune in Alpes-Maritimes in terms of surface area. However, it is also one of the most densely populated. It forms part of Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur.
The Villa Kerylos is a structure on a low rocky promontory by the sea. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by archeologist Théodore Reinach in the style of an ancient Greek villa at the time of Pericles. The villa was bequeathed to the Institut de France in 1928. It is currently classified as a monument historique.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a sister city of Tempe, Arizona, US. Every year, four French students are paired with four American students; they each spend five weeks in one another's country. This student exchange is with the Tempe Sister Cities organisation, which was voted "Best Overall Sister City Program" in 1998 and 2004.
In popular culture
Beaulieu-sur-Mer was used in the 1970 film Cold Sweat and served as the fictional town of "Beaumont-sur-Mer" in the hit 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and the 2019 film The Hustle.
Elvira Chaudoir (ca.1910–1996 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer) a Peruvian socialite and MI6 double-agent in WWII.
Peter de Francia (1921 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer – 2012) an Italian-British artist and Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London from 1972 to 1986.
Madanjeet Singh (1924–2013 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer) an Indian diplomat, painter, photographer and writer.