He offered it to the City of Nice for a very low price, but, surprisingly, the corporation refused and in December 1912, it was finally sold to three German bankers who resold it at a profit, to a rich South American businessman, S.I. Patino, owner of tin mines in Bolivia. During World War 1, the castle was used to house refugees. The architects of the University of Nice mutilated and butchered the houses and park, and built ugly offices and laboratories. Fortunately, the Belle Epoque buildings are, at least externally, in good condition. Some elements of the park, the pond, the statues, fountains and roman ruins are still in place and, recently, the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis seems to have made some effort to protect what is left of the ruins.
Students seem to respect the monuments and park more now than some years ago.
Visitors can imagine how it was during La Belle Epoque and naturalists can see some of the 167 exotic plants and trees which survived. The main entrance is on avenue Valrose, but it is recommended that you use the monumental gat e at the corner of rue Edith Cavell and boulevard Prince de Galles. Sincere thanks to the kind ladies in the library of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, who provided the documentation on Ch teau Valrose. When in Nice, the Tsar and his family lived on a large estate, Villa Bremond, where the H tel du Parc Imp rial was built at the beginning of the last century. When you visit, don't be put off by the many warnings and interdictions posted at the entrance.