Château de La Croix des Gardes

What Château de La Croix des Gardes does

Château de La Croix des Gardes is a privately held ultra-luxury hospitality estate perched above Cannes on the French Riviera. Originally commissioned in 1919 by Swiss industrialist Paul Girod and later transformed by Gustave Leven of the Perrier Empire in 1960, the property spans 25 acres of Italian-style gardens with 17 bedrooms across 3,868 square metres and panoramic 360° views of the Bay of Cannes, the Lérins Islands, the Mediterranean, and the Alps. After decades of private exclusivity, the estate was acquired in 2017 by a family that undertook a comprehensive restoration, reopening the property for private hire in 2022 for the first time in 56 years.

The company's commercial offering comprises two core products — exclusive rental stays (minimum 7-night bookings accommodating up to 38 guests) and bespoke events (curated and strictly limited in volume, with capacity for up to 2,000 guests in the gardens or 160 standing / 80 seated in the Great Room) — augmented by an on-request concierge network of Michelin-starred chefs, luxury transport providers, and elite wedding planners. Revenue is generated through bespoke, enquiry-based one-time licence fees for both stays and events; no public pricing or rate cards are published.

The customer base centres on ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and prestige luxury brands. Named enterprise clients include Versace, Chopard, Kering and Apple. Distribution is exclusively direct and invitation-driven, supported by editorial placements in publications such as AD Magazine, Departures International and Tatler Asia, alongside organic social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and a bilingual EN/FR website. The legal operating entity is referenced as SCI Blue Orchid, based in Monaco.

Name

Château de La Croix des Gardes

Legal name

Château de la Croix des Gardes

Website

https://chateaudelacroixdesgardes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Château de La Croix des Gardes is a privately held ultra-luxury Riviera estate near Cannes offering bespoke private stays (up to 38 guests) and curated, invitation-only events for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and prestige luxury brands such as Versace, Chopard, Kering and Apple.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Hospitality & Private Event Venue

NAICS

Accommodation (721), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ultra-Luxury Villas & Estates (THAMAEAA)

Keywords

• Luxury private estate hire
• Exclusive villa rentals
• Bespoke event venues
• Luxury hospitality Riviera
• Private celebration venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Cannes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Event Hire: Exclusive venue hire for corporate events, celebrity weddings, brand showcases, and prestigious gatherings. Limited number of bespoke events curated each year with personalized planning and execution.
2. Luxury Private Stays: Exclusive rental of entire estate for minimum 7-night stays accommodating up to 38 guests. Includes access to all amenities, gardens, and bespoke concierge services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Château de La Croix des Gardes is a 25-acre historic Neo-Palladian estate above Cannes on the French Riviera, offered exclusively for private hire. The core offerings are (1) Exclusive Rental Stays — private rental of the entire 17-bedroom, 3,868 sq meter estate for stays of a minimum 7 nights accommodating up to 38 guests; and (2) Bespoke Events — curated exclusive events hosted in the gardens (up to 2,000 guests) or the Grand Room (160 standing / 80 seated), including celebrity weddings, brand showcases, corporate events, press events, and art/design exhibitions. Each engagement is bespoke and invitation-only, with no standard rate cards and no third-party distribution.

Product overview

Château de la Croix des Gardes operates as a luxury private-event and exclusive-stay venue on the French Riviera, near Cannes. The estate is offered as a single, unified hospitality product for private hire — comprising exclusive rental stays and bespoke events services. The venue does not operate as a software platform or modular SaaS product; there are no distinct product lines, add-on modules, or standalone SaaS offerings. Its offering consists of the physical château and grounds made available for private use, with ancillary services provided through a curated network of on-request partners (concierge, Michelin-starred chefs, luxury transport, event planning).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exclusive Rental Stays Private luxury rental of the entire Château and grounds for exclusive stays with a minimum 7-night requirement, accommodating up to 38 privileged guests across 17 bedrooms and 3,868 sq meters, with 360° panoramic views of the Mediterranean, Lérins Islands, Estérel mountains, and snow-capped Alps. The offering is targeted at ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and private groups seeking absolute privacy.
• Bespoke Events Curated exclusive events hosted at the Château — including celebrity weddings, prestigious brand showcases, private soirées, cinema events, press events, and art and design exhibitions. Capacities range up to 2,000 guests in the gardens and 160 standing / 80 seated in the Grand Room. Events are strictly limited in number each year to maintain exclusivity. Targeted at luxury brands, corporate clients, private individuals, and event organizers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosts events for up to 2,000 guests in expansive gardens
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ChopardflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Host of the legendary Chopard Secret Night - the spectacular closing soirée of the Cannes Film Festival. This prestigious partnership solidified the Château's position as the premier venue for cinema's elite.
• VersacecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury fashion house that has chosen the Château as an exclusive event venue for private brand celebrations and activations.
• ApplecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology giant that has hosted exclusive corporate events at the Château, demonstrating its appeal to premium brands beyond fashion.
• KeringcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury goods conglomerate that has utilized the Château for private brand events and celebrations.
• World's Finest Wedding PlannerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with elite international wedding planners to create unique, breathtaking celebrations that redefine elegance and exclusivity.
• Michelin-Starred ChefscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Michelin-starred chefs for gourmet culinary experiences under the Riviera sky during private events and exclusive stays.
• Luxury Transportation ProvidersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive transport partners providing luxury vehicles and yacht charters for guests' complete Riviera experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild: Iconic Belle Époque villa on the French Riviera (St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) operated as a museum, event venue, and luxury hire property. Comparable in heritage prestige, Riviera positioning, and exclusive event hosting model.
• Château de la Chèvre d'Or: Relais & Châteaux luxury property in Èze-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Comparable as an ultra-luxury château-style hospitality venue serving UHNW travelers with on-site fine dining and panoramic Mediterranean views.
• Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc: Ultra-luxury Oetker Collection hotel in Antibes, an anchor venue for Cannes Film Festival events. Comparable as a Riviera luxury hospitality property capturing celebrity and luxury brand event demand.
• Airelles Château de la Messardière: Airelles Collection ultra-luxury château property in St-Tropez. Comparable as a heritage château estate offering exclusive luxury accommodation and private events targeting UHNW and celebrity guests on the Riviera.
• Château Saint-Martin & Spa: Relais & Châteaux luxury château-hotel near Vence on the French Riviera. Comparable as a heritage château property offering exclusive luxury stays and private events for high-end clientele in the Côte d'Azur.
• Cap Estel: Ultra-luxury boutique hotel on a private peninsula in Èze-sur-Mer. Comparable as an exclusive Riviera luxury property offering panoramic Mediterranean views and high-end private stays and events.

Regional players

• La Réserve Ramatuelle: Ultra-luxury hotel and villa estate near St-Tropez. Comparable in Riviera luxury positioning and UHNW clientele, though located in the western Riviera rather than the Cannes-Monaco corridor.
• Domaine des Étangs: Ultra-luxury castle estate in Charente offering exclusive whole-property hire. Comparable in whole-estate private hire model and UHNW positioning, though located outside the French Riviera region.

Broad incumbents

• Cheval Blanc St-Tropez: LVMH-owned ultra-luxury hotel in St-Tropez. Comparable as a Riviera ultra-luxury hospitality property with significant brand and event positioning, though operates as a hotel rather than a private estate hire model.
• Le Negresco: Iconic heritage luxury hotel in Nice with century-old history and event hosting pedigree. Comparable as a Côte d'Azur heritage luxury hospitality property hosting brand and society events, though operates as a hotel rather than private hire estate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chateaucroixdesgardes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ch%C3%A2teau-de-la-croix-de-gardes
• Instagraminstagram.com/chateaulacroixdesgardes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Château de La Croix des Gardes