Coco Chanel's Mediterranean villa, La Pausa, has long been a sanctuary for some of the world's most influential artists and writers. The villa, where Salvador Dalí painted his haunting landscape The Enigma of Hitler, was once the summer home of French fashion designer Coco Chanel, who had it rebuilt from scratch in the 1920s.
After being bought by American publishing couple Emery and Wendy Reves, La Pausa was restored to its original specification by luxury fashion brand Chanel in 2015. Architect Peter Marino spent years studying countless photographs to get the restoration right, from the concrete squares on the lawn to the potted cacti at the foot of the staircase.
The villa's library is now a testament to Chanel's enduring love affair with books and learning. The space boasts over 1,000 volumes, including biographies of Picasso by John Richardson, rare editions of Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook, and bound volumes of Jean Cocteau's letters. The shelves also house works by Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Rachel Cusk, reflecting Chanel's eclectic tastes and her desire to stay connected to the literary world.
For Coco Chanel, books were a source of comfort, inspiration, and escapism. Born into poverty, she was forced to rely on her imagination and storytelling skills to build an empire from scratch. As she once said, "Books have been my best friends." The library at La Pausa is a reflection of this love affair with literature, serving as a sanctuary for the mind and a testament to Chanel's enduring legacy.
As we walk through the shelves of La Pausa's library, we are surrounded by the ghosts of artists and writers past. We see biographies of F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the villa in the 1930s, as well as works by guests like Somerset Maugham and Greta Garbo. Each book on these shelves holds a story, a secret, or a desire that has been hidden within its pages.
La Pausa's library is more than just a collection of books – it is a memory palace, a window into the inner worlds of those who have left their mark on this sacred space. As we browse through the shelves, we are invited to explore our own curiosities, secrets, and desires, to ponder what our own bookshelves might reveal about us.
Ultimately, La Pausa's library is a reminder that books have the power to transport us to new worlds, to ignite our imagination, and to connect us with others across time and space. For Coco Chanel, it was a source of comfort, inspiration, and creativity – and for us, it remains a testament to the enduring power of literature to shape our lives and our understanding of ourselves.
After being bought by American publishing couple Emery and Wendy Reves, La Pausa was restored to its original specification by luxury fashion brand Chanel in 2015. Architect Peter Marino spent years studying countless photographs to get the restoration right, from the concrete squares on the lawn to the potted cacti at the foot of the staircase.
The villa's library is now a testament to Chanel's enduring love affair with books and learning. The space boasts over 1,000 volumes, including biographies of Picasso by John Richardson, rare editions of Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook, and bound volumes of Jean Cocteau's letters. The shelves also house works by Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Rachel Cusk, reflecting Chanel's eclectic tastes and her desire to stay connected to the literary world.
For Coco Chanel, books were a source of comfort, inspiration, and escapism. Born into poverty, she was forced to rely on her imagination and storytelling skills to build an empire from scratch. As she once said, "Books have been my best friends." The library at La Pausa is a reflection of this love affair with literature, serving as a sanctuary for the mind and a testament to Chanel's enduring legacy.
As we walk through the shelves of La Pausa's library, we are surrounded by the ghosts of artists and writers past. We see biographies of F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the villa in the 1930s, as well as works by guests like Somerset Maugham and Greta Garbo. Each book on these shelves holds a story, a secret, or a desire that has been hidden within its pages.
La Pausa's library is more than just a collection of books – it is a memory palace, a window into the inner worlds of those who have left their mark on this sacred space. As we browse through the shelves, we are invited to explore our own curiosities, secrets, and desires, to ponder what our own bookshelves might reveal about us.
Ultimately, La Pausa's library is a reminder that books have the power to transport us to new worlds, to ignite our imagination, and to connect us with others across time and space. For Coco Chanel, it was a source of comfort, inspiration, and creativity – and for us, it remains a testament to the enduring power of literature to shape our lives and our understanding of ourselves.
! I mean, 1,000 volumes? That's like, a whole different world in itself 
. And can we talk about how iconic it is that Coco Chanel had such an eclectic taste in books? From Picasso to Hemingway, the literary greats are all represented here 
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. And let's not forget about the vibes - all that French Riviera charm is giving me major Amélie-inspired feels 
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. I'm totally feeling the same way about my own bookshelves - they're literally my happy place 
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! Like, can you imagine having 1,000+ books as your own personal sanctuary? It's like stepping into a time capsule where the most iconic minds in literature and art came to life 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be surrounded by works from Picasso, Hemingway, and Chanel herself? 
The fact that it was Coco's own personal haven is giving me major nostalgia vibes – like, she must have spent countless hours curled up with these same books, getting inspiration for her designs and designs for a more liberated world 
. Anyone else dreaming of having a library that's their own personal haven? 
I think its pretty cool how Coco Chanel's villa is now a sanctuary for book lovers like me...I mean, Im not saying her books r more important than art or fashion but its nice to see somethin that reflects her passion 4 literature...I've been to La Pausa and it does feel like a magic place 
. The way they restored the villa is actually pretty impressive too...I mean, those potted cacti at the foot of the staircase? Genius 
. What Im curious about though is what kind of books would Coco Chanel's friends from back in the day have on their bookshelves 
and omg the library is insane!!! Coco's collection is insane too - i mean who knew picasso's biography was a thing? 
also, someone pls link me where i can buy some of those cecil beaton books 
i mean, who else but coco would turn a villa into a book lovers paradise? 
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. The eclectic mix of authors on those shelves is giving me major book envy 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be surrounded by the ghosts of F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway? 
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. And can you imagine all the stories that books on these shelves hold? It's like each one has its own secret or desire hidden inside 
. This is defo a must-visit for book lovers and history buffs alike 
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I just saw this thread about La Pausa's library and I'm like "yaaas I need to see that place ASAP" 