Opening onto a reflecting pool set within a lush garden, the Château de la Colle Noire reveals, through its bare stone façade, a lifestyle steeped in Provence and in the dreamlike imagination of Christian Dior, who made this residence his secluded retreat, far from the bustle of Paris.
Built in the 19th century, this family-style estate is distinguished by its two towers flanking the main building. Draped in climbing vines along its façade and extending beneath a shaded arbor, the château—whose DNA reflects both the convivial spirit of the South and the refinement imposed by Christian Dior—was restored in 1955 by architect André Svétchine.
The hexagonal entrance hall features a Provençal cobblestone floor arranged in a compass-rose motif, a direct reference to Christian Dior’s childhood home in Normandy.
“This house,” Christian Dior wrote in his memoirs, “I would like it to be my real home. The one where—if God grants me a long life—I can retire. The one where—if I can afford it—I can come full circle and rediscover, in a different climate, the enclosed garden that protected my childhood. The one where I could finally live in peace, forgetting Christian Dior to simply become Christian again.”
Completely redesigned, the vast Provençal residence unfolds as a succession of reception rooms and guest bedrooms, all connected by a monumental staircase bathed in overhead light.
The some thirty rooms that make up the Château de la Colle Noire reveal Christian Dior’s taste for furniture sourced from antique dealers, blending pieces from the 18th century, the Second Empire, and the Belle Époque with remarkable harmony.
Upstairs, the couturier’s private apartment presents a dense and intimate collection of objects, from the bedroom to the office, where panoramic views over the Pays de Fayence stretch as far as the eye can see—an extension of the gardens, another treasure revived by Christian Dior.
The garden: the Dior legacy
At the heart of the 50 hectares surrounding the Château de la Colle Noire, Christian Dior expressed his passion for exceptional flowers through a completely redesigned garden inspired by that of his childhood home. In doing so, he revived the agricultural heritage of this Var hinterland estate, whose land was once devoted to jasmine, vines, and May roses.
The couturier—also a perfumer at heart—tirelessly planted fields of fragrant flowers, along with olive groves and fruit trees, particularly almond trees, which were especially dear to him.
Among the flowers that now grace the lush flowerbeds around the bastide are agapanthus, lily of the valley, violets, and above all the Rose de Mai from Grasse, the true muse of Dior perfumes.
His visionary ambition to cultivate these fragrant flowers for distillation has since been realized through the commitment of the House of Dior and the collaboration of local producers.
Château de la Colle Noire: a place of welcome and celebration
Like many of his contemporaries, Christian Dior delighted in welcoming friends and influential figures of his time, including Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Pierre Bergé.
In this same spirit—where refinement and grace meet conviviality—the Château de la Colle Noire now lends itself to exceptional events such as luxurious weddings, exhibitions, and prestigious dinners, reserved for a select circle of guests and friends of the House. One such celebration marked the rebirth of this legendary estate, attended by Pierre Niney, Charlize Theron, and Bella Hadid.
Historic villa on the French Riviera
