9 May 2016 was the Opening night at The Chateau de la Colle Noire, Christian Dior’s former home in the South of France.
In order to celebrate the rebirth of the Château de La Colle Noire, Christian Dior’s former home situated in Montauroux in the Grasse countryside, a private event was held in the presence of Mr Bernard Arnault and Mr Claude Martinez, President and CEO of Parfums Christian Dior. The two of them were delighted to be joined by Ms Charlize Theron, who has been the face of J’adore perfume since 2004.
Christian Dior’s cherished house, the Château de La Colle Noire, is once again opening its doors under the Grasse sun. The House of Dior restoration project has faithfully reconstituted the interior decoration originally designed by the couturier-perfumer. The garden has also been reconstructed, reawakening the heavenly Eden that he patiently created.
Located in Montauroux, the Château de La Colle Noire nestles at the heart of Grasse terroir. Christian Dior was attached to this region, where he had sought refuge during the Occupation, and which had inspired his most beautiful perfumes, so in 1951, he acquired this splendid domain surrounded by hundreds of hectares of land fit for cultivation.
A place brimming with life, creation, art and friendship, the Château de La Colle Noire provided an enchanted interlude for Christian Dior during the years preceding his demise in 1957. The colossal renovations that he undertook were on the same level as his Provençal dream.
The interior décor gradually developed into a refined eclectic style and the ornamental garden he designed down to the last detail was absolutely magnificent.
Thousands of flowers, as well as a forty-metre long ornamental pond, formed an enchanted memory of the garden at Les Rhumbs, his childhood home in Granville.
Encouraged by his love of flowers and his desire to create the most beautiful fragrances imaginable, he chose to plant entire hectares of fragrance flowers (May roses, jasminum grandiflorum and lavender), as well as olive trees, vines and other plants that provided him with beautiful harvests. With endless patience and passion, the House of Dior devoted itself to breathing new life into the Château de La Colle Noire.
Today the interior décor of the château, carefully designed by the couturier-perfumer, has been recreated. The superb garden and immense ornamental pond have been revived, rebuilt by a landscape architect. And, faithful to the couturier-perfumer’s love of nature, his favourite flowers have been replanted by the thousand, as have the vines and olive trees.
More than 250 guests were invited to an exceptional dinner composed for the occasion by Michelin starred chef Philippe Labbé, who took inspiration for the menu from Christian Dior’s favourite recipes. The dinner was followed by a firework display.
The following people were present at the event: Aurélie Dupont, director of the National Paris Opera Ballet, the top model Bella Hadid, French actor Pierre Niney, actress and model Aymeline Valade, director JeanBaptiste Mondino, designer Mélanie Huynh, calligrapher Nicolas Ouchenir and the young singer Fai Khadra.
The Grasse Roses that Christian Dior so loved, are finally blossoming again at the Château de La Colle Noire.
Foto and maerials: Dior
