Why Cabris Is Called “The Village of Great Writers” | History, Places and Walks near Grasse.
- Olivier
- Oct 19, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Discover why Cabris, above Grasse on the French Riviera, became a haven for André Gide, Albert Camus, Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry and more. Addresses, stories and a literary walk starting from Domaine de La Xavolière.
Why is Cabris called "The Village of Great Writers"?
Perched above Grasse with sweeping views toward the Bay of Cannes, Cabris quietly became a meeting point for some of the greatest French writers of the 20th century. From Aline de Saint Hubert’s Messuguière to the retreats of André Gide, Albert Camus and Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry, here is how our hilltop village earned its literary aura, and how you can continue the story at Domaine de La Xavolière.
A friendship that anchored Cabris on Europe’s literary map.
The story begins with a friendship between Aline de Saint Hubert and Maria Van Rysselberghe.
Aline de Saint Hubert, a Luxembourgish woman of letters and patron, married the industrialist Émile Mayrisch. Committed to Franco‑German rapprochement in both culture and industry, they acquired the Château de Colpach in Luxembourg in 1917 and created the Colpach Circle, an influential European salon where writers, artists and thinkers met. André Gide was among the first guests.
Maria Van Rysselberghe, confidante of Gide and author of the celebrated “Cahiers de la Petite Dame”, was married to the Neo‑Impressionist painter Théo van Rysselberghe, a friend of Paul Signac. They lived at Villa Saint‑Clair in Le Lavandou, where Gide visited frequently. Their daughter, Elisabeth, later purchased a villa in Cabris called Les Audides, where she lived with Catherine, the long‑hidden daughter she had with Gide, whom he ultimately recognized.
This constellation of friendships, stretching from Luxembourg to the Mediterranean, naturally gravitated toward Cabris.
Cabris: a balcony over the French Riviera, made for reading and writing.
Sitting around 550 m above sea level, Cabris overlooks Grasse and the Cannes coastline. Its high‑altitude light, temperate breezes and quiet lanes lined with oaks and olives offered writers a discreet, restorative environment. Here, people met, read, walked and wrote.
Houses that still tell the village’s literary story
La Messuguière: a home that welcomed scholars and writers
In 1938, Aline and Émile Mayrisch settled in Cabris in a house they named La Messuguière, often hosting their circle of intellectual and artistic friends.
Aline passed away there on 24 January 1947. In her memory, her daughter Andrée Viénot, married to French politician Henri Viénot, transformed La Messuguière into a rest home for writers, historians and scientists.
From 1947 to 1979, La Messuguière remained a meeting place for numerous intellectuals. They were so many that it is impossible to list them all.
Today, La Messuguière is a private property visible from the road leading to Domaine de La Xavolière. Please admire it respectfully from the public way only.
Les Audides: echoes of André Gide
Elisabeth van Rysselberghe acquired Les Audides in Cabris. She lived there with Catherine, her daughter with André Gide, first kept secret, later publicly recognized by Gide. The house stands as a discreet reminder of their intertwined destinies. Private residence; view only from the street.
Les Fioretti: Saint‑Exupéry’s family roots in Cabris
The mother of Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry bought a house in Cabris that she named Les Fioretti, where she lived from the age of 63 to 97. Local memory also holds that Saint‑Exupéry may have finished Terre des hommes (Wind, Sand and Stars) at the village’s Hôtel Horizon, an oral tradition carefully preserved in Cabris.
Albert Camus in Cabris
Albert Camus discovered Cabris in 1950 and returned several times. The high, dry climate suited his health, and the village offered the quiet he needed to rest and work. Walking paths, sunlight and the horizon lines toward the sea formed the backdrop of these stays.
Cabris today: strolling “in the footsteps of the writers”
The belvedere and the ruins of the old castle: a panoramic view over the Bay of Cannes and the Pre‑Alps, a perfect spot to read a few pages or jot notes in your journal.
Shaded lanes and little squares: weathered doors, honey‑colored stone, fountains, the very settings that charmed visiting artists.
Around the village: garrigue footpaths, olive groves, cypresses and pines; a shifting light made for writing and painting.
Honouring the writers at Domaine de La Xavolière
To celebrate these enduring ties, our guest rooms bear the names of Cabris’s most devoted literary visitors and friends: Albert Camus, André Gide, André Malraux, Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry and Paul Valéry. We look forward to welcoming you.
Annick Dubosq
FAQ
Why is Cabris called “the village of writers”?
Because from the 1930s to the 1950s, several major figures stayed here or had close ties to the village (Gide, Camus, Saint‑Exupéry), around addresses that became emblematic such as La Messuguière, Les Audides and Les Fioretti. Aline de Saint Hubert’s house hosted resident writers, historians and scientists up to 1979.
Which houses are linked to Cabris’s literary history?
La Messuguière (a rest home for intellectuals after 1947; now private).
Les Audides (home of Élisabeth van Rysselberghe and her daughter Catherine, connected to André Gide).
Les Fioretti (house of Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry’s mother) These homes are not open to visitors; please respect the owners’ privacy.
Did Albert Camus stay in Cabris?
Yes. He discovered Cabris in 1950 and returned; the climate and altitude suited his health. These visits form part of his many Provençal stays.
Did Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry write in Cabris?
Local memory relates that he finished Wind, Sand and Stars (Terre des hommes) at the village’s Hôtel Horizon. In the absence of complete archival sources, this information is passed on cautiously as an item of oral tradition.
Where should I stay in Cabris for a literary weekend?
At Domaine de La Xavolière, a luxury guesthouse in Cabris, near Grasse and Saint‑Cézaire‑sur‑Siagne. Our rooms bear the names of writers who shaped the village’s history.
Location: Cabris, Pays de Grasse (Alpes‑Maritimes) Getting here: 10 minutes from Grasse, 30 minutes from Cannes, 45–60 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Seasonal ideas: spring and autumn for the light; summer for evenings on the terrace; crisp, dry winters—ideal for writing and walking. |
More articles on writers and Cabris (in french):
Book your stay at Domaine de La Xavolière with Stéphanie by clicking here.
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