Forty-five minutes from Nice airport and under an hour from the sea, the Domaine de Terre Blanche covers 301 hectares of unspoilt countryside in the commune of Tourrettes, in the Pays de Fayence. Two golf courses designed by Dave Thomas, a 3,200 sqm spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant complete the setting, amid pine forests and hills. Valmont Riviera offers a selection of properties here for sale and for seasonal rental, some priced at tens of millions of euros.
The Estate’s History: From Sean Connery to Dietmar Hopp
The estate takes its name from the land itself: chalky, stony soil with a whitish tinge, terre blanche in French, once farmed by a family from the Haut-Var who kept a château on 266 hectares of forest. In 1979, heavily in debt, the family sold the property to the actor Sean Connery, drawn to the idea of building a golf course there.
Connery’s dream never materialised. The estate lay dormant for twenty years, despite a 1989 planning permission for two golf courses and a thousand homes, and a Swedish attempt to revive it in 1993, neither of which came to anything.
In 1999, the German industrialist Dietmar Hopp, co-founder of the software group SAP, took over the project himself.
Partnering with the Four Seasons hotel group to run the site, he began construction that October. The investment, initially estimated at 120 million euros, rose to around 160 million euros after the spa opened. The hotel and the first course, Le Château, opened in March 2004; Le Riou followed in September.
Today, the Resort covers 301 hectares and operates independently. Dietmar Hopp remains its founder. “Terre Blanche is like an oasis, and a stay here soothes the soul,” he says of his estate.
Living at Terre Blanche: A Property Market Apart
The estate has six gated residential areas, laid out around the two golf courses. Since the first plots were sold in late 2001, ranging from 2,700 to over 10,000 sqm, the offering has diversified: more compact villas in recent phases, and large-scale properties on the estate’s most sought-after plots. Owners and tenants alike enjoy direct access to both golf courses, the spa and the restaurants, within a secure setting away from prying eyes.
This scarcity, combined with the estate’s security and discretion, explains Terre Blanche’s appeal to an international clientele seeking a residential investment on an altogether different scale, or a private stay to match.
A Provençal Setting Away from the Coastal Bustle
Thirty-five to forty minutes from Cannes, the estate lies across the hills of the Pays de Fayence, among pine forests and cork oaks, facing the Esterel massif. It takes its name from the commune of Tourrettes, a hilltop village whose historic centre lies four kilometres away, while Lake Saint-Cassien completes the natural setting ten minutes further on. This distance from the coast appeals to a clientele seeking space and calm, without giving up easy access to the sea and international airports.
The Estate’s Assets
Two 18-hole golf courses, Le Château and Le Riou, designed by Dave Thomas, earned Terre Blanche 2nd place in Golf World’s Continental European Top 100 in 2022, and first place among French courses on Leadingcourses.com. The estate also has a 3,200 sqm spa and four restaurants, including Le Faventia, awarded a Michelin star. These facilities are as much a part of daily life for owners and tenants as they are for hotel guests.
Why Choose Valmont Riviera to Invest at Terre Blanche
Valmont Riviera follows the Var hinterland market as closely as the coast, from Monaco to Saint-Tropez, with the same depth of knowledge of the Pays de Fayence. We currently have several properties on the estate, both for sale and for seasonal rental, including some priced at tens of millions of euros. Contact our team to see the full selection.
