Swiss Mansion Where Ronald Reagan Held Cold War Peace Talks Heads to Auction

A Swiss mansion that was the site of the 1985 Geneva Summit that brought together President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev is on the auction block, with bids starting at 10 million Swiss francs (US$12.6 million).

Built in 1867 by architect Francis Gindroz, the home has the classic markings of Second Empire architecture—a symmetrical box-like shape, a portico entrance and a mansard roof. It’s surrounded by about 22,873 square feet of parkland, with century-old trees, a formal French garden, multiple ponds, and benches, fountains and statues dating to the 1940s, when the property was expanded by architect Jean Camoletti, according to Concierge Auctions, which is handling the sale.

Named Villa Fleur d’Eau—meaning flower of water—the mansion stands near the banks of Lake Geneva and is only about 5 miles from Geneva’s city center. In addition to the lake, the property takes in views of Mont Blanc.

“Villa Fleur d’Eau is an extraordinary architectural gem,” Chad Roffers, CEO of Concierge Auctions, said in a statement.

The property hosted the pivotal 1985 Geneva Summit, where Reagan met with Gorbachev for the first time during the Cold War.

“Villa Fleur d’Eau stands as both a prestigious residence and a living monument to a moment that changed the course of global history,” said Nathalie Assir of Forbes Global Properties Swiss & Alps, who holds the listing. “Its combination of 19th-century grandeur and international legacy make it a one-of-a-kind opportunity for buyers seeking heritage, prestige and proximity to Geneva’s global institutions.”