The Christian Dior Museum is located in Granville, Normandy, within the Belle Époque villa known as Les Rhumbs, which was the childhood home of Christian Dior.
Perched on a cliff overlooking the English Channel, this villa was purchased by Dior's parents in 1906, shortly after his birth. The name "Les Rhumbs" refers to the 32 points of a compass rose, a motif that is also found in a mosaic at the villa's entrance.
Madeleine Dior, Christian's mother, was instrumental in transforming the surrounding grounds into an English-style garden. She planted roses and lily of the valley, flowers that would later inspire her son's fashion designs and perfumes. Christian Dior contributed to the garden's design by adding features such as a pergola and a reflecting pool.
The family resided in the villa until 1910, after which they moved to Paris but continued to use Les Rhumbs as a summer retreat. Following the economic downturn of the 1930s and the death of Madeleine Dior, the property was sold to the town of Granville in 1932. The garden was opened to the public in 1938.
In 1997, the villa was inaugurated as the Christian Dior Museum, making it the only official museum in France dedicated to a fashion designer. The museum hosts annual exhibitions that showcase Christian Dior's creations and those of his successors. These exhibitions often draw from the museum's own collection as well as other significant fashion archives. The museum also organizes various cultural activities, including workshops and guided tours, to engage visitors with the legacy of Christian Dior.
The museum is open to the public from April to November each year. The garden, which remains a testament to Madeleine Dior's horticultural passion, is open year-round and free of charge. It features a variety of plants and flowers, including the original rose garden, and offers visitors a glimpse into the natural inspirations behind Christian Dior's work.
What a lovely villa! No wonder he developed such great taste...