Rocabella was born from the vision of an iconoclastic entrepreneur. During the last decade of the 19th century, a certain Jules Patin relied on technological innovations in metallurgy to achieve a dazzling industrial breakthrough. In 1897, he decided it was time to give a new meaning to his life and dedicated himself to build an exceptional place combining elegance and nature. For his project, he chose Hans-Georg Tersling, princess Eugenie’s favourite architect. Translating the vision of the French entrepreneur, the Danish architect built in 1899 a place that is both neoclassical and romantic, giving the estate its bold and warm character.
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Rocabella became a popular avant-garde literary and artistic salon. After the Second World War, the estate took an unexpected new direction and was transformed into a vacation center for children. A place of fun and happy memories, Rocabella became an unforgettable destination linked to sea activities. At the turn of 2000, the interior architect Patrice Nourissat fell in love with the place and undertook remarkable artistic work to restore the large historic Villa and its gardens.
Since 2020, JB Rudelle, a serial French Tech entrepreneur, has taken over Rocabella. The objective is to combine this exceptional leisure destination with the original pioneering spirit of its founder. In addition to its traditional touristic activities, the place now also hosts many professional seminars on entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Thanks to a massive investment, major renovation work has been undertaken to provide modern comfort with an ecological spirit.
