The stained glass windows of the Château de Crémat, on the hills of Nice, which would have inspired the logo of Coco Chanel -

E. Martin / ANP / 20 Minutes

  • The Château de Crémat, which has the same logo as the Chanel brand, would be the place of inspiration for the seamstress. 

  • The new owner of the estate aims to revive the fashion designer and the Roaring Twenties in this emblematic castle of the Nice landscape.

Two intertwined black "C's".

We no longer present this famous logo of the luxury brand Chanel, invented in 1925 by designer Gabrielle Chanel.

What we know less is the origin of the inspiration of the seamstress.

Several legends circulate but one is distinguished by its obviousness and its indisputable character: the symbol of the castle of Crémat, a building of medieval style, unmistakable on the heights of Nice.

The Château de Crémat, on the hills of Nice - Château Crémat

"The logo's favorite"

“In 1923, begins Agnès Mengel, events manager for the Château de Crémat, Irène Bretz, a wealthy shareholder in an American railway company, acquired the château.

She is used to having social evenings there, at the Gatbsy.

The story goes that Gabrielle Chanel was one of his guests ”.

A bull's eye on the stairs of the Château de Crémat, in the heights of Nice - É.

Martin / ANP / 20 Minutes

She continues: “Seeing the two Cs which stand for 'castle' and 'Crémat', the young seamstress fell in love with her and asked her owner to be inspired by them for her brand.

This story has never been able to be fully verified but the similarities are obvious ”.

The horses arched in the hall of the castle.

They come from the furniture of the Ritz, the luxury hotel in Paris - É.

Martin / ANP / 20 Minutes

If Gabrielle Chanel was not inspired by the castle almost a hundred years ago, the castle is now inspired by her and this legend.

Entering the building, two statues of golden rearing horses adorn the hall in addition to an imposing chandelier.

They are labeled.

“Everything that is ringed actually comes from the Ritz, the luxury hotel in Paris,” says Agnès Mengel.

In 2018, the new owner of the estate acquired all of this furniture at an auction.

Inside, there was also the whole Coco Chanel suite ”.

"Black on white, we find Coco Chanel"

Two armchairs, one of which still shows traces of the designer's legs, "the other was that of her cat," says the event manager.

His scale in the bathroom.

His bed.

Everything is there.

"It's as if we were there, with her," comments Agnès Mengel with a smile.

Gabrielle Chanel's armchairs.

One is the one she sat on all the time, the other is her cat's - É.

Martin / ANP / 20 Minutes

This owner, passionate about the designer and her history with the château, decided to "bring Chanel back to life one hundred years after her visit".

For three years, work has been linked to "install a decor of the Roaring Twenties".

The tapestries were painted and laid by hand, moldings were made, "everything has been thought out down to the smallest detail, even in the painting".

Black on white, we find Coco Chanel.

And if we still can't see it, we can smell it.

“The roses planted in the garden are those cultivated in Grasse and which are used for the Chanel n ° 5 perfume.

Normally, they are not marketed, ”emphasizes Agnès Mengel.

“The goal is to create an atypical place and provide an experience that the customer would never have had elsewhere with historic furniture.

We will add the possibility of enjoying a food and wine pairing created by a starred chef ”.

For the moment, only “exclusives” can appreciate the whimsy of the place.

Eventually, shootings could be carried out for the bride and groom who reserve the place.

But the manager warns: “No eating or drinking in the suites.

We wouldn't want a stain of foundation to end up on one of the armchairs ”.

An experience in an exceptional place

“In the end, this story fits perfectly with the image of the château,” comments Angel Negrel, responsible for the wine section of Château de Crémat.

It is elegant and always sober in its exuberance ”.

Painted in red ocher, it can be spotted from afar.

“It was built in 1906 by Antoine Mari,” continues the representative.

At first, he didn't necessarily have a connection with wine.

But in 1941 when the Bellet appellation was recognized, the château belonged to Pierre Thomé who was also president of the Syndicat des vignerons.

Since then, we have been making wine there.

It is moreover this part which brings the most to the castle.

Throughout the event, we also highlight these products which are just as exceptional ”.

Bellet wine is the only urban vineyard with an AOC exclusively located in an agglomeration.

There are nine producers including the Château de Crémat.

Angel Negrel concludes: “There is this exceptional place and a heritage to be safeguarded.

And it is the new owner's desire to push this assumed atypical side to the maximum.

This is the identity of Chanel, of the team and of the château ”.

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  • Luxury

  • Wine

  • High fashion

  • Perfume

  • Chanel

  • Nice