From Miami to Tangier, via the French Riviera, Cascais and the Hamptons, the biggest names in fashion have found summer retreats far from the catwalks and spotlights where they can express their creative genius. From legendary villas and family homes to secret workshops and castles, each of these exceptional locations embodies the spirit, audacity, and art of living of their famous owners.
This summer, LUXUS MAGAZINE takes you on a weekly tour of a prestigious residence: a nine-part journey through the iconic vacation spots of the world’s greatest fashion designers. Today, our journey continues to La Pausa, the minimalist retreat of Gabrielle Chanel in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
La Pausa, Mademoiselle’s secret retreat on the Riviera
Overlooking the dazzling reflections of the Mediterranean, La Pausa was much more than just a vacation home for Gabrielle Chanel. Designed in her image, this villa, built in 1928 on the heights of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, was a place of escape, memory, and creation. A spiritual refuge, social scene, and aesthetic manifesto, it embodies a secret but fundamental part of the couturier’s history. In this Mediterranean setting, far from the Parisian salons and the hustle and bustle of fashion, Mademoiselle Chanel finally allowed herself… a pause.
A house designed for silence and light
It was in a discreet corner of the French Riviera, between Monaco and Menton, that Gabrielle Chanel chose to build her summer home. The land, which once belonged to the Grimaldi family, is planted with century-old olive trees overlooking the sea from the heights of La Torraca. The name she gave to this residence – La Pausa, meaning “pause” or “rest” in Italian – perfectly sums up the spirit of the place: it is a refuge where one can stop, retreat, and breathe. It also refers to a legend that Mary Magdalene stopped in the area on her way to Jerusalem after the crucifixion of Jesus.
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Featured photo : montage of portrait of Gabrielle Chanel and La Pausa © La Pausa
