Pierre Cardin’s Palais Bulles, the bubble-shaped villa near Cannes, was put on the market with reported asking prices between roughly $335 million and 350 million euros. We found no confirmed sale. The 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) house was designed by Antti Lovag, built between 1975 and 1989, and bought by Cardin after its first owner died in 1991. Cardin himself died in December 2020.
Palais Bulles key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Theoule-sur-Mer, near Cannes, French Riviera |
| Architect | Antti Lovag |
| Built | 1975 to 1989, for industrialist Pierre Bernard |
| Size | About 1,200 m2 (13,000 sq ft), 29 rooms, 10 bedrooms |
| Asking price | About $335 million in the first reports; 350 million euros in March 2017 |
| Rental | Listed at about $33,200 a day for groups in later reports |
Who built the Bubble Palace?
Hungarian-born architect Antti Lovag, who disliked straight lines and called them an aggression against nature, designed the house for French industrialist Pierre Bernard. Lovag drew on ancestral homes such as prehistoric caves. The house climbs a rocky outcrop of the Esterel massif in six undulating levels.
Fashion designer Pierre Cardin bought it after Bernard’s death in 1991 and used it for two decades to host parties and runway shows. A renovation led by French architect Odile Decq was completed in 2016.
What is inside?
The house has a reception hall, a panoramic lounge, a 500-seat open-air amphitheater, ten bedrooms (each decorated by a different artist), several pools and waterfalls and extensive gardens, with sea views over the Mediterranean.
Cardin said of the round forms that they were inspired by the body of a woman. The amphitheater overhanging the sea caused trouble because it was built without planning permission.
Who has been there?
The villa became a magnet for guests, and a 2002 party for the James Bond 40th anniversary was held there. Dior has used it for a show timed to the Cannes Film Festival, and the house has appeared in the film Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, in a 2004 album shoot by Emma Bunton, and in a 2023 Travis Scott music video.
Why did Cardin want to sell?
Reports at the time quoted him as wanting to sell his whole brand, saying he knew he would not be around in a few years and that business must go on. He had also reportedly hoped for a major sum from his Paris restaurant Maxim. He was the first fashion designer to put his initials on a huge range of products, from clothes to frying pans. Read more about Cardin; for Dior’s runway see our look at expensive Dior pieces.
After Cardin’s death, it was suggested that the building be turned into a public venue for art exhibitions. What do you say? Will someone buy this bubble mansion?
Keep reading
- a $60 million penthouse: another property built to be photographed
- a $35 million house in Bellagio, Los Angeles: an alternate take on the luxury listing
FAQ
How much is Pierre Cardin’s Palais Bulles?
Early reports put the asking price near $335 million, and a March 2017 listing asked 350 million euros. We found no confirmed sale price.
Where is the Palais Bulles?
In Theoule-sur-Mer, near Cannes on the French Riviera.
Who designed the Bubble Palace?
Antti Lovag designed it, and it was built between 1975 and 1989 for French industrialist Pierre Bernard.
Did Pierre Cardin design it?
No. Cardin bought it after Bernard died in 1991 and owned it until his death in December 2020.
Can you rent the Palais Bulles?
It has been rentable for groups and events. Reports gave a rate of about $33,200 a day, but check current availability.
Last updated: October 2026.
