Riviera charm – “La Pausa: The Ideal Mediterranean Villa of Gabrielle Chanel”
- mymoderndarcy
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Dear readers, decades ago when I was studying French in an evening school after work, it was an exhausting experience, yet, I vividly remember one class that left me uplifted and energized, my French teacher shared a hilarious anecdote about the vacation habits of the French from the north: how they would travel to the south of France, disrupt the locals and environment, return home, and then complain about how undesirable the south and its people were. While the class laughed hard that night, the story sparked my curiosity and interest about southern France, particularly the French Riviera, for the very first time in my life.
© Streitz Archives, from La Pausa, Flammarion
Years later, when I finally visited the French Riviera for the first time, I began to understand its charm and why the French themselves flock there for summer vacations. During my revisit last year, I’ve been thinking of visiting the legendary resort villa of fashion icon Coco Chanel — La Pausa. Though the villa isn’t open to the public, I’ve been dreaming of stopping by to admire its exterior and imagine its heyday under Chanel’s ownership. The plan never materialized as it didn’t fit into my itinerary, but fate intervened weeks ago when I discovered the sumptuous new book titled “La Pausa: The Ideal Mediterranean Villa of Gabrielle Chanel” was about to be released! It was such a thrill that I couldn’t wait to dive into its pages.
Published by Flammarion, with text by Montse Aguer Texidor, Laura Bartolomé, and Philippe Collas, this book meticulously documented the history of this magnificent villa located in Roquebrune. Bound in luxurious Orient-blue cloth and featuring an inlaid portrait of the villa, the volume opens with a conversation between Yana Peel, President of Arts, Culture & Heritage at Chanel, and renowned architect, Peter Marino, who recently restored the property. From there, readers are transported into the soul of La Pausa, exploring its architectural evolution, its origins even before Chanel’s ownership, and the intangible allure that captivates admirers of fashion, art, and history.
© Photo Roger Schall ©Schall Collection, from La Pausa, Flammarion
© Photo Roger Schall ©Schall Collection, from La Pausa, Flammarion
Before Chanel’s ownership, La Pausa belonged to British novelist, Charles Norris Williamson, and his wife, Alice Muriel Williamson. In 1911, the couple built the original villa as a secluded sanctuary where they could write, surrounded by nature’s tranquility. Though they lived stylishly, the villa remained private; the couple only entertain their elite circle of guests, included baronesses, esteemed writers, and other luminaries, in the guest house rather than the main villa. In 1916, the Williamsons reluctantly sold the property to Alfred Mayen, director of the Prévoyance insurance company, and later, his son, Jean, sold it to Chanel in 1928.
With her visionary flair, Chanel demolished the original structure and commissioned Belgian architect, Robert Streitz, to rebuild it, infusing her own ideas into the design, with the only remnant she preserved was the name “La Pausa”, which may derive from Latin and Italian words meaning "halt," "truce," or "peace", a fitting reflection of the villa’s serene atmosphere, which sets it apart from her opulent Paris apartment on Rue Cambon.
© Photo Roger Schall ©Schall Collection, from La Pausa, Flammarion
Chanel was deeply involved in the villa’s architecture, drawing inspiration from Aubazine Abbey, where she spent her childhood, the result was a crispy white, bright and calming atmosphere that homage to Cistercian monastic style. The iconic staircase connecting the ground and first floors, for instance, echoes the minimalist chic of Lucien Lelong’s Paris boutique, designed by Chanel’s friend, the legendary interior designer, Jean-Michel Frank.
A highlight of this book is its glimpse into Chanel’s glamorous life at La Pausa, where she hosted her tight-knot circle of artists, cultural figures, and high-society friends, including Misia Sert, Jean Cocteau, the Duke of Westminster, and Salvador Dalí, this legacy cemented the villa’s association with art, literature, and high fashion. Moreover, surrealism enthusiasts will appreciate a dedicated chapter on Dalí’s work in this book, which accompanied by rare photos of Riviera life, as well as the interior design and detail of the villa.
© Photo Roger Schall ©Schall Collection, from La Pausa, Flammarion
Photo M. Bérard.Patrimoine de Chanel, Paris. Courtesy of Chanel. All rights reserved, from La Pausa, Flammarion
For anyone fascinated by Chanel’s world or the timeless allure of the French Riviera, this book is a treasure; and who knows? Perhaps it will inspire your own Riviera story one day, allowing you to see the region through the eyes of Chanel’s elite guests.
Image courtesy of Rizzoli USA / Flammarion.