The property, now known as La Sylviane, was established by the monks of the order of St Honorat who built the monastery in Valbonne in the 12th Century. The Monastery, which stands on the property was completed in 1679 and served as the agricultural arm of the village monastery. It supplied milk, meat, wine and olive oil to the monks and covered over 100 hectares of land. An underground tunnel served to connect the Valbonne monastery to La Sylviane and it can still be seen today.
In the 18th century, the monks of the order of St Honorat, left to establish a monastery on the island off Cannes , now known as the Ile St Honorat where they continue to grow wine, olive oil and other agricultural products.
In the early 19th century the property was given to a general in Napoleon’s army as a reward for his services in battle and continued as an agricultural holding.
The name La Sylviane was given to this property by the then owner who had two daughters , Louise and Sylvie. Each daughter was given a property in the Valbonne area , one known as La Sylviane ( Sylvie) and the other La Louisianne ( Louise)
Over the next two hundred years , La Sylviane passed through several hands and during the second World War ( 1939-1945) was used to hide escaping prisoners of war . Details of this activity were given to the present owners by Camille Rayon who led the resistance to the German occupation in the south of France.
After the war the property was acquired by the cousin of Prince Ranier of Monaco, Le Comte du Boisrouvray. The Comte installed his mother ( La Comtesse de Polignac) and his mistress ( ! ) in the property and and it was from the Comte that the present owners ( the family of the late Lord Kissin) acquired the property in 1973. The Polignac family are well known for their world renowned cognac and the Comte ‘s mother kept close and frequent contact with the Grimaldi family who rule the Principality of Monaco to this day.
La Sylviane is one of the largest remaining estates in the area with the easiest access to Nice Airport and the major attractions of the magnificent Cote D’Azur.
The property has a rich and distinguished history and continues to produce award winning olive oil from its ancient trees.
