The Story of 30 Montaigne
Where heritage meets modernity
“It was in 1946 that I moved into 30 Avenue Montaigne. This delightful house then had enough elegant rooms and salons, sufficient nooks and crannies to contain all eighty-five of us”
— Christian Dior
The Origins
“ Stopped short in front of two small houses, side by side, in the avenue Montaigne – numbers 28 and 30 –,” Christian Dior promised himself that if he ever founded his own fashion house, it would be there “ ... and nowhere else”. In 1946, fate seemed to answer his prayers: a stroke of luck guided him to this coveted townhouse, which had finally been vacated.
He moved in and entrusted decorator Victor Grandpierre with the mission of recreating the sober, modern, neoclassical atmosphere he loved. Right from his very first show, 30 Montaigne became an eternal symbol of Parisian excellence and elegance.
The Opening
1946
The First Presentation
1947
The Expansion
1950
A Living Legacy
Built in 1865 by Count Walewski – Napoleon I’s natural son – the hôtel particulier at 30 Avenue Montaigne now glows with its original charm, proudly brandishing its subtly restored historic facade, where the elaborate balconies and volutes remain along with the mascaron, a captivating stone face.
The resolutely Parisian building invites visitors into a completely reinvented realm of dreams, celebrating in turn the savoir-faire of haute couture and fine jewelry, the art of living and giving, gastronomy, beauty and culture, all of which promise timeless experiences. This extraordinary setting combines audacity, excellence, artistic dialogues and architectural virtuosity, and is revealed through an original scenography highlighting the different universes of Dior as well as several exclusive creations.
