Far from the sharp lines and theatrical polish he was known for, Karl Lagerfeld‘s former country estate, about 50 miles outside of Paris, offers a quieter perspective on a figure more often associated with tightly controlled personal style and high-fashion spectacle. Unlike his Paris apartment—transformed into a stark, almost clinical environment—this house reflects a more informal way of living and working.

The grand residence, dating to 1749, was acquired by the German-born legend in 1986, and he remained in his hands until 1998, a period when he was simultaneously overseeing Chanel and expanding his own eponymous label. He used the estate as both a retreat from his work schedule and as a creative backdrop: several Chanel ad campaigns were photographed in the gardens during his ownership, including shoots with the iconic models Inès de la Fressange and Tatiana Patitz. 

“It’s really a place defined by proportion, light, and a certain restraint that feels very French,” says Alexis Feyfant of Pyla Paris, who holds the $3.1 million listing.

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The architecture follows a classic French composition, a symmetrical facade punctuated by tall windows, and rooms arranged in sequence. Reception spaces open onto the grounds, while smaller, more private rooms sit just beyond. According to Feyfant, the layout mirrors daily life, moving easily from the kitchen to dining areas and into the more intimate spaces.

Originally built for a local family, the property later passed through several notable hands, including French actress Renée Saint-Cyr. Lagerfeld sold it in 1998 to Prince Ernst August of Hanover. Princess Caroline of Monaco and her family moved in years later, living there from about 2004 to 2010. After their separation, the house sat empty for a period, roughly between 2010 and 2013, before changing hands again.

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The current owner, who purchased the property in 2014, has preserved much of its original character, including the Versailles-style parquet flooring, elaborate moldings, and carved stone fireplaces that are still in situ. The main house spans roughly 5,400 square feet with seven bedrooms, while a separate guesthouse adds another 2,000 square feet, all set on roughly 1.25 acres.

Its reappearance follows the 2024 sale of Lagerfeld’s Paris apartment and studio on the Quai Voltaire, which sold for about $10.8 million at auction following a bidding war. Lagerfeld lived there from 2006 until his death in 2019 at the age of 85. Over the years, he cycled through residences in the City of Light, Monaco, Rome, and beyond, an impressive portfolio later chronicled in the book Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Houses, which traces his shifting interiors from Art Deco to ultramodern.

Click here to see more photos of Manoir du Mée.