Construction of the villa 1925-1926 (≈ 1926)
Edited by Léon Bailly in reinforced cement.
27 janvier 2004
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 27 janvier 2004 (≈ 2004)
Protection of the park and facades.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire park, with all the buildings it carries; the facades and roofs of the villa (Box AF 16 to 22, 724): inscription by decree of 27 January 2004
Key figures
Léon Bailly - Architect
Designer of the villa and park.
Origin and history
Villa Bellevue, located in Sainte-Maxime in the Var, was built between 1925 and 1926 by architect Léon Bailly. This monument illustrates a transition between regionalism and modernity, with a structure inspired by Provencal bastides, but using innovative materials such as reinforced cement. Its spatial organization is marked by a main axis facing the sea and a secondary axis towards the garden, reflecting a social hierarchy between owners, servants and gardeners.
The villa park, entirely designed in reinforced cement, is an original landscape work. It includes a ramped walk adorned with pergolas leading to a castle-belvedere. The villa itself has an architectural duality: a sea side facade for the owners, and back wings evoking a factory, with a concrete vaulted roof. Inside, an atrium hall decorated with mosaics and a central fountain distributes the spaces, including those preserving Art Deco furniture.
Villa Bellevue was partially classified as a Historic Monument in 2004, with protection covering the entire park, facades and roofs. His architect, Léon Bailly, expressed a hybrid vision, combining Mediterranean aesthetics and technical audacity. The use of reinforced concrete, rare for the period in a residential setting, and the differentiation of spaces according to social functions (masters, servants) make this a unique testimony of the architecture of the 1920s.
The exact address of the villa, 14 avenue du Croiseur-Léger-Le Malin, places the monument in a residential area of Sainte-Maxime. Although the practical information on visits is not detailed in the sources, its listing as Historic Monuments underscores its heritage importance. The Insee code of the commune (83115) confirms its anchoring in the department of Var, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
