French Riviera Castle Featured in Grace Kelly’s To Catch a Thief Hits the Market

The masquerade scenes in Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece were filmed in the The Castle of la Croix des Gardes, a dream-like estate overlooking the Bay of Cannes.

Images via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty

Images via Sotheby’s International Realty

1955 was a busy year for Grace Kelly. Not only did Philly’s Princess co-star with Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, she also accepted the marriage proposal of Prince Ranier III of Monaco, setting the wheels in motion for her fairy tale-like life has a the Princess of Monaco.

Rewind a moment to another piece of Kelly’s 1955 timeline that’s seemingly from the pages of a storybook: The Castle of la Croix des Gardes, the dreamy French Riviera estate where Hitchcock shot the masquerade scenes in To Catch a Thief.

The 24-acre castle property overlooks the Bay of Cannes, and is available on the open market for the first time in 56 years. You won’t believe the reported asking price.

The property dates back to 1919 and sits 700 feet above the Mediterranean. It boasts almost 13,000-square-feet of opulent interior living space, and jaw-dropping landscaped gardens that surround the mansion. Seriously, take a look at the infinity pool.

It’s no wonder that Grace Kelly, according to Top Ten Real Estate Deals, “fell in love” with property: “She told how she was entranced by the grandeur of the structure, its elegant Florentine-style facades and manicured gardens overlooking the Bay of Cannes. ”

Its proximity to Cannes provides stunning views of the sea and also of snow-topped mountains. The property houses an orangery (mmm, fresh-squeezed OJ!), a winter garden, and a Turkish lodge. Inside, it’s the best of the best with grand rooms at every turn, a breathtaking staircase fit for a movie and a bath you’ll have to see to believe.

Don’t miss the gallery below, and definitely don’t miss the extended gallery here.

THE FINE PRINT
Beds: 13
Baths: 9
Square Feet: about 13,000 over 24-acres
Price: estimated asking price of $53.5 million