18 May 2025
Gabrielle Chanel built La Pausa in 1929 on the hills of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, above the French Riviera. The villa overlooks the Mediterranean and sits between Menton and Monaco. Chanel designed it as a private space far from Paris, literally translating to “the break”, the house was both a sanctuary and a statement of her independence.
She worked with architect Robert Streitz, who helped bring her vision to life. The layout followed simple, clean lines. The +10,000 sq ft interior reflected her preference for beige, white, and natural textures. La Pausa included large windows (in sets of 5), exposed beams, and terracotta floors. The design drew on the Aubazine abbey where she spent part of her youth. The villa is centered on a courtyard featuring olive trees, lavender plants and a grid of grass and stone slabs looking remarkably similar to the quilted design of a classic flap.
Gabrielle Chanel often hosted artists, writers, and friends here. Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dalí visited. The villa would function as the setting for creative exchange and relaxation. Over time, its understated style started influencing Chanel’s work. You can trace the villa’s shapes and tones through her collections, especially in relaxed cuts and neutral shades.
image credit: CHANEL
image credit: Clément Vayssieres
image credit: CHANEL
Chanel sold the property in 1953 and La Pausa passed through several owners. For decades, it remained mostly out of public view. In 2015, CHANEL acquired the estate, stating: “With La Pausa, CHANEL extends CHANEL Heritage Sites, an initiative to restore and activate places of cultural significance in France in Mademoiselle Chanel’s life.”
Restoration work began shortly after the acquisition. Architect Peter Marino worked together with historians to preserve original features – the aim was not to modernize, but to return La Pausa to how it looked during Chanel’s time. This included original furniture, light fixtures, and floor materials. The olive trees and gardens were also restored to their original arrangement.
image credit: Clément Vayssieres
image credit: Clément Vayssieres
La Pausa Eau de Parfum was launched in 2016 as part of the Les Exclusifs de CHANEL collection. Taking inspiration from the gardens surrounding the villa, the scent is described as a “floral, woody, musk” with notes of iris, pink pepper and vetiver.
La Pausa’s clean aesthetic also continues to shape CHANEL’s fashion collections. You can specifically see its influence in the Cruise 2019 show. That event took place at the Grand Palais in Paris, with a set featuring a replicated ship liner named “LA PAUSA”. The collection reflected the house through fabrics, palettes, and shapes. White tweeds, wide-leg pants, and flowing lines recall the villa’s air and light. A string of sweaters and bags also prominently displayed “La Pausa” across them.
In 2022, CHANEL’s Spring/Summer limited edition makeup collection was titled “La Pausa de CHANEL” drawing inspiration from the villa and the earth tones and sunshine that surround it. Lightweight metallic products bearing names like “Mediterraneen”, “Lumiere” and “Terra Rossa” are ideal for the perfect “Radiant Riviera Look”.
image credit: CHANEL
image credit: CHANEL
image credit: CHANEL
La Pausa is more than a holiday home. It was a place where Gabrielle Chanel shaped her taste and sharpened her ideas. The house gave her space to live quietly and observe the Riviera’s natural beauty.
CHANEL’s restoration of La Pausa reconnects the past to the present and the remodelling brings new attention to the property. It offers a lens through which you can understand how a place shapes style. The villa’s calm, sunlit presence continues to guide designs and concepts.
La Pausa now stands as a cultural symbol and CHANEL will use the villa to support cultural creation, inspiration and education surrounding the arts. Openings and events will be by invitation only. However, in September 2025 a volume titled La Pausa: The Ideal Mediterranean Villa of Gabrielle Chanel will be released and include details on the unique conception and construction of the property, archival material surrounding Coco Chanel and the guests she hosted, and conversations with Peter Marino, who restored the villa. This edition is sure to become a must-have item for CHANEL collectors.
Lisbeth
says:Coco Chanel’s story is both interesting and admirable, as are her life, her aspirations, and her genuine accomplishments, particularly in the realm of women’s fashion