Cap d’Ail

City of Cap d’Ail

The city’s history begins seriously in 1908, when the city becomes its own municipality. Several essential public services were set up such as the post and telegraph office, the police station, a schoolroom and the municipality’s own town hall.

The city was originally part of the County of Nice until 1860, and then part of the municipality of La Turbie until its separation in 1908.

Already in the late 1800s, the area, like several other cities along the French Riviera, experienced a growing interest from the better European bourgeoisie.

This resulted in the construction of several extraordinary villas along the coast, which today bear witness to the impressive Belle Époque period.

Foreign aristocratic interest in Cap d’Ail was at its peak in the 1940s with famous visitors such as Winston Churchill, Sacha Guitry, Greta Garbo, Josephine Baker, exiled Russian princes and the Lumière brothers.

Cap d’Ail – worth experiencing

The main attraction today is located in the area around Cap Mala. Here, you will find the iconic Mala Beach, the coastal path to Monaco and the impressive Belle Epoque villas, including the Chateau des Terrasses and the museum Villa les Camélias.

Read more about these in the overview at the bottom of the page under Experiences in Cap d’Ail.

Transportation to Cap d’Ail

If you come by car, it can be difficult to find parking space. You can try your hand at the small roads of Cap Mala. It helps to arrive early in the day, before all the beachgoers arrive.

You can take both train and bus from Nice or Monaco.

Useful links:  Cap d’Ail tourist office

By Tommy Sverre – 2022