Pierre Cardin puts his bizarre 'sensual' Bubble Palace in the South of France - the scene of many a celeb party and photoshoot - on the market for £300m (Cressida not included) 

  • The Italian-born fashion designer has hosted a string of after-parties and high-fashion runway shows at the mansion
  • The 1,200-square-metre complex on hills of Cannes in the south of France is made up of ten interconnected domes
  • The likes of Marion Cotillard, Rhys Ifans, Pierce Brosnan and Cressida Bonas have posed or partied in the complex
  • Built between 1975 and 1989 by Hungarian architect who was inspired by ancestral homes such as prehistoric caves

The bizarre mansion where fashion designer Pierre Cardin hosted debauched after-parties and runway shows for two decades has been put on sale for £300million.

Italian-born Cardin, 92, bought the wacky Palais Bulles, or Bubble Palace, at auction in the early 90s after the death of its French industrialist owner.

Under his ownership, the Cannes complex became a magnet for stars like Marion Cotillard, Rhys Ifans, Dakota Fanning and Pierce Brosnan, and even Prince Harry's ex-beau Cressida Bonas - who have all attended shows, posed or partied under its terracotta-coloured bubbles.

The 1,200-square-metre mega-complex comes with ten space-aged rooms, three swimming pools, luxurious gardens, an amphitheatre that seats 500 and spectacular views of the Mediterranean.

Bubble Palace: Fashion designer Pierre Cardin has put his iconic Palais Bulles in Cannes up for sale for £300million

Bubble Palace: Fashion designer Pierre Cardin has put his iconic Palais Bulles in Cannes up for sale for £300million

Weird and wonderful: The 1,200-square-metre mega-complex comes with ten space-aged rooms, three swimming pools, luxurious gardens, an amphitheatre that seats 500

Weird and wonderful: The 1,200-square-metre mega-complex comes with ten space-aged rooms, three swimming pools, luxurious gardens, an amphitheatre that seats 500

Hedonistic: Pierre Cardin has thrown countless parties and fashion shows at the palace, including the 2002 MTV party celebrating 'James Bond's 40th birthday' (pictured)

Hedonistic: Pierre Cardin has thrown countless parties and fashion shows at the palace, including the 2002 MTV party celebrating 'James Bond's 40th birthday' (pictured)

Star-studded: The famous faces who have both posed for photoshoots and attended parties at the Bubble Palace include Prince Harry's gorgeous ex-beau, Cressida Bonas (pictured)
Star-studded: The famous faces who have both posed for photoshoots and attended parties at the Bubble Palace include Prince Harry's gorgeous ex-beau, Cressida Bonas (pictured)

Star-studded: The famous faces who have both posed for photoshoots and attended parties at the Bubble Palace include Prince Harry's gorgeous ex-beau, Cressida Bonas (pictured) 

The debauched parties thrown by Cardin in his opulent villa include Celebration of the Spirit of Brazil, attended by Rhys Ifans (left), and the after-party for the 59th International Cannes Film Festival, where he was pictured with model Jasmine Lennard (right)
The debauched parties thrown by Cardin in his opulent villa include Celebration of the Spirit of Brazil, attended by Rhys Ifans (left), and the after-party for the 59th International Cannes Film Festival, where he was pictured with model Jasmine Lennard (right)

The debauched parties thrown by Cardin in his opulent villa include Celebration of the Spirit of Brazil, attended by Rhys Ifans (left), and the after-party for the 59th International Cannes Film Festival, where he was pictured with model Jasmine Lennard (right)

Funky: The mega-complex is made up of ten giant, terracotta-coloured bubbles which are just as wacky on the inside as they are outside

Funky: The mega-complex is made up of ten giant, terracotta-coloured bubbles which are just as wacky on the inside as they are outside

Space-aged: The mansion was designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag who was inspired by 'ancestral homes' such as pre-historic caves

Stunning view: Cardin has hosted high-end fashion shows, such as this one for mega-brand Dior, inside its right-angle-free dome

Stunning view: Cardin has hosted high-end fashion shows, such as this one for mega-brand Dior, inside its right-angle-free dome

The stars are out: Dakota Fanning (left) and Zoe Kravitz (right) attended a Dior fashion show at the Palais Bulles in May
The stars are out: Dakota Fanning (left) and Zoe Kravitz (right) attended a Dior fashion show at the Palais Bulles in May

The stars are out: Dakota Fanning (left) and Zoe Kravitz (right) attended a Dior fashion show at the Palais Bulles in May

It was built between 1975 and 1989 by by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag who died aged 84 last year. 

He was inspired by 'ancestral homes' such as prehistoric caves for the forms of his buildings, which is why you won't see many right-angles inside the Bubble Palace.

It is built over six undulating levels on a rocky outcrop of the Massif de L'Esterel - a volcanic mountain range known for its red hues.

According to Cardin, who has dressed some of the world's most beautiful women, the round forms are inspired by 'the body of a woman' and 'everything is absolutely sensual'.

The uber-eccentric pad was most recently hired by high-end fashion house Dior, for a show to coincide with the Cannes Film Festival. 

Cressida Bonas was one of the high-profile models and actresses Dakota Fanning and Zoe Kravitz were in the star-studded crowd.

If its £300million price tag is too steep, there is an option to rent the extravagant complex for an incredible £730 per person per night for holiday purposes.

To hire the entire palace for a party or show - as Dior did - reportedly costs £8,759 per day.

The Palais Bulles' theatre, which overhangs the sea, caused trouble when it was built just a decade ago. Cardin went ahead with the project even though he did not receiving planning permission. 

Scenic: The Palais, situated on the hills of Calais in the south of France, enjoys one of the most spectacular views on the Cote d'Azur

Scenic: The Palais, situated on the hills of Calais in the south of France, enjoys one of the most spectacular views on the Cote d'Azur

Vibrant: One of the villa's extravagant rooms has a deep blue, circular bed and colourful wall paintings

Vibrant: One of the villa's extravagant rooms has a deep blue, circular bed and colourful wall paintings

Surreal: The extravagance of the house's interior matches the strangeness of its exterior, with odd brass paintings, bizarre sofas and circular doorways

Surreal: The extravagance of the house's interior matches the strangeness of its exterior, with odd brass paintings, bizarre sofas and circular doorways

Proud owner: A brightly-clothed Cardin poses for a picture outside his luxurious bubble-shaped mansion in Cannes

Proud owner: A brightly-clothed Cardin poses for a picture outside his luxurious bubble-shaped mansion in Cannes

Pricey: There is an option to rent the extravagant complex for an incredible £730 per person per night for holiday purposes

Pricey: There is an option to rent the extravagant complex for an incredible £730 per person per night for holiday purposes

Expensive: It reportedly costs £8,759 per day to hire the entire complex out for a party or show, as Dior did this year

Expensive: It reportedly costs £8,759 per day to hire the entire complex out for a party or show, as Dior did this year

Showtime: Pierre Cardin (left), actress Marion Cotillard (centre) and designer Raf Simmons (right) attend the Dior fashion show at Palais Bulles in May

Showtime: Pierre Cardin (left), actress Marion Cotillard (centre) and designer Raf Simmons (right) attend the Dior fashion show at Palais Bulles in May

A-list: Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith (together, left) have attended a party at the Palais Bulles which hosted the extravagant James Bond 40th Birthday Party (right) in 2002
A-list: Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith (together, left) have attended a party at the Palais Bulles which hosted the extravagant James Bond 40th Birthday Party (right) in 2002

A-list: Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith (together, left) have attended a party at the Palais Bulles which hosted the extravagant James Bond 40th Birthday Party (right) in 2002

My house: Designer Pierre Cardin (pictured) poses at the MTV Cannes Film Festival party during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival at the Le Palais Bulles

My house: Designer Pierre Cardin (pictured) poses at the MTV Cannes Film Festival party during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival at the Le Palais Bulles

He was fined by a court who demanded he return the site to its original state. Building continued after a pause to regularise the situation.

He hosts an annual fete of music and theatre there and it attracts the stars of stage, screen and fashion during the annual Cannes Film festival.

The idea of selling up has been on Cardin's mind for some time. Three years ago, he spoke of wanting to offload his global label for more than £750million.

He hoped for a similar sum from the sale of his iconic Parisian restaurant Maxim, which is franchised in major cities throughout the world. Six years ago, he sold his textile businesses in China for £160 million.

He was the first fashion designer to exploit his brand to an unprecedented degree, putting his initials not only on his clothes but on thousands of products including frying pans and tins of sardines.

But, of late, he mused: ' I want to sell the entire brand. I know I will not be there in a few years and business must go on'.

Cardin has no children to whom he can leave his vast fortune, once regretting that none came from his four-year love affair with celebrated French actress Jeanne Moreau.

He was the youngest of six children born to Italian parents. A sister, with whom he lived for long periods, died at the age of 100.

Cardin has a taste for the unusual when it comes to property. He owns the chateau where the Marquis de Sade lived in the Luberon, the setting for Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. 

Man of the house: Pierre Cardin, 92, bought the house after the death of its French industrialist owner in the early 90s
Man of the house: Pierre Cardin, 92, bought the house after the death of its French industrialist owner in the early 90s
Man of the house: Pierre Cardin, 92, bought the house after the death of its French industrialist owner in the early 90s

Man of the house: Pierre Cardin, 92, bought the house after the death of its French industrialist owner in the early 90s

Selling up: The idea of selling up has been on Cardin's mind for some time and a few years ago, he spoke of wanting to offload his global label for more than £750million

Selling up: The idea of selling up has been on Cardin's mind for some time and a few years ago, he spoke of wanting to offload his global label for more than £750million

Iconic: The Palais Bulles is built through six undulating levels on a rocky outcrop of the Massif de L'Esterel, a volcanic mountain range known for its red hues.

Iconic: The Palais Bulles is built through six undulating levels on a rocky outcrop of the Massif de L'Esterel, a volcanic mountain range known for its red hues.

Curvy: According to Cardin, who has dressed some of the world's most beautiful ladies, the round forms are inspired by 'the body of a woman'

Curvy: According to Cardin, who has dressed some of the world's most beautiful ladies, the round forms are inspired by 'the body of a woman'

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