Notre-Dame des Fleurs

An incursion into the “secret garden” of Pierre and Marianne Nahon.

A sublime incursion into the “secret garden” of art-collectors Pierre and Marianne Nahon.

A few kilometres from Vence, on the road to Grasse, the Château Notre-Dame des Fleurs is enthroned at the heart of a sumptuous park laid out in terraced embankments, home to monumental works by household names such as Niki de Saint-Phalle, George Segal and Arman. It reigns supreme over a world of serene tranquillity. In 1992, art-dealers Pierre and Marianne Nahon, owners of the Galerie Beaubourg in Paris for the past 25 years, fell beneath the spell of this mysterious building. A Benedictine abbey in the 12th century, converted and enlarged in the 19th century, it then became a Museum of Aromas… A place charged with history and memories, the ideal spot for a new approach to art. The Nahons bought the Château, renovated it while observing the local style, and adorned it with a thousand works of art. Pierre Nahon recalls the first exhibitions, sometimes staging over 150 pieces both inside the building and in the gardens. Bugatti furnishings, artists’ books and furniture, decorative design by Prouvé, Royère, Mouille, Charlotte Perriand, Philippe Starck and Gaetano Pesce… Creations signed Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp, Arman, César, Niki de Saint-Phalle, Tinguely, Klossowski, Schnabel, Andy Warhol, Baselitz, David Salle, Soulages and Dubuffet were, of course, particularly appreciated.

On the first floor, the lounge with its art treasures leads to the library, whose richness is only equalled by its eclecticism, and then a study, whose walls are covered with photos of artists. On the landing, a sculpture-painting, composed of chairs by Arman. In the coolness of the chapel, the last vestige of the Benedictine abbey built in the 12th century, Jean Tinguely’s strange “Odalisque” starts to move and light up. Also of note, the stained-glass windows, made by Jean-Pierre Raynaud.

While the challenge of attaining excellence was a hard one to win, the swimming pool has quite visibly attained its mark. The free-form pool flows through tall trees to end on the mosaic deck designed by Louis Cane. Carnet : Total surface area : about 2,500 m2 of living space and utilities in about 7.5 acres of grounds. The property is offered for sale. Contact : Burger Real Estate, representing Sotheby’s, 45 La Croisette, Cannes (04 93 38 50 33). burgerealestate@wanadoo.fr

The Château Notre-Dame des Fleurs proposes a different way of looking at art. It’s a real pleasure to wander around the park, coming across an arc by Bernar Venet, a work by Pierre Klossowski or “La Grande Lulu” by Charles Matton.

Not just an art-gallery, Notre-Dame des Fleurs is also home to Pierre and Marianne Nahon. And while initiates are familiar with the public rooms, few people have penetrated the private apartments. In the billiard room which serves as a reception room, the tone is set immediately : around the table in the centre of the room, twelve luminous panels by André Raffray relate the life of Marcel Duchamp. A majestic staircase leads to the lounge. One finds it hard to focus on anything because there’s so much to see : the portrait of Arman by the genius of Pop Art, a low table by Yves Klein, surprising trick paintings by Spoerri, Farhi’s chess table, a Prouvé bed, a Bugatti seat, a 1950’s edition of lighting by Mouille, canvasses by Picabia and Mathieu and, above all, a huge fireplace, which takes up a whole expanse of the wall, signed Jean-Pierre Reynaud. The room stretches out lengthways and ends in a narrow spiral staircase with a Joseph Kosuth neon and a mezzanine at the top. Along the corridor-library, Bugatti, Mathieu and Chacallis accompany us as we head for the study, a cosy lair with furnishings by Sornay. Here, we look at photos of artists from last century and others of the Nahon family. “L’Arbre bleu” by Jean-Charles Blais adds a personal touch to the room. In the dining-room, Picasso, Bettencourt and Matta make their appearance. The collection of “barbotines” set out on a console reinforces the eclecticism. If there’s one room which throws light on the personality of this pair of fervent art-lovers, it has to be the bedroom : a lounge suite by Paul Follot (1925), a dressing-table by Jules Leleu, lamps again by Mouille, paintings by Klossowski and Arman and another monumental piece by the young artists Ida Tursic and Willfried Mile. The guest-rooms with their adjoining bathrooms succeed each other in tones of green and ochre. The terraces, shady or open to the sun, surround the Château with its omnipresent artworks. With heightened curiosity, we recognize, guess, discover or are amazed… And with bated breath, we enter the 12th-century chapel, home to Jean Tinguely’s “Odalisque” and stained-glass windows by Jean-Pierre Reynaud.

After more than ten years on the Côte d’Azur and a lifetime spent searching out new talent as well as consecrating that of others, the Nahons are leaving the Château for new horizons. Pierre speaks enthusiastically of projects such as the promotion of young artists at sumptuous receptions in their 1,000 m2 showroom in the Marais. But his wildest dream is still that of creating a cable TV channel dedicated to art. In the meantime, he is planning a last exhibition in this legendary setting, from July 14th to 17th, followed by an exceptional auction organized by Sotheby’s on July 18th. The total amount estimated for the 330 lots to come under the hammer is between 6.5 and 9 million euros.

By Laetitia Rossi - Photos Edith Andreotta.