The Peaceful Place: 7 Surprising Facts About Audrey Hepburn's Swiss Home, La Paisible, That Recently Hit The Market

The iconic Swiss manor known as "La Paisible," the cherished final home of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn, has recently become the subject of intense media scrutiny and fascination after being placed on the market. As of late 2025, this historic 18th-century estate in the tranquil village of Tolochenaz, Switzerland, offers a rare glimpse into the star’s private world, a life she deliberately cultivated away from the blinding glare of show business. This property, whose name translates simply to "The Peaceful Place," was the sanctuary where Hepburn spent the last 30 years of her life, raising her family and dedicating herself to humanitarian work.

The news of the sale provides a unique opportunity to explore the meticulously preserved residence where the star of Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday finally found true serenity. Far from the lavish Hollywood mansions one might expect, La Paisible is a subtle yet expansive country home that reflects Hepburn’s own understated elegance and deep love for nature. It remains one of the most private and significant celebrity estates in the canton of Vaud, embodying her enduring legacy of grace and simplicity.

Audrey Hepburn: A Life Defined by Swiss Tranquility

Audrey Hepburn’s decision to move to Switzerland marked a pivotal shift in her life, prioritizing family and privacy over her demanding film career. Her retreat to the Vaud region was a deliberate choice to ground herself after years in the global spotlight.

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• Full Name: Audrey Kathleen Ruston
• Born: May 4, 1929, in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium
• Died: January 20, 1993, at La Paisible, Tolochenaz, Switzerland (Age 63)
• Primary Residence in Switzerland: La Paisible (The Peaceful Place)
• Location: Tolochenaz, near Morges, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
• Years Lived There: 1965 until her death in 1993 (approximately 28 years)
• Spouses: Mel Ferrer (1954–1968), Andrea Dotti (1969–1982)
• Long-Term Partner at La Paisible: Robert Wolders (1980–1993)
• Children: Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Luca Dotti
• Final Role: Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (1988–1993)

Hepburn first discovered the area while filming Two for the Road in France in 1965. She was captivated by the quiet charm of the region, which reminded her of her childhood in the Netherlands. Seeking stability for her son, Sean, she purchased the 18th-century farmhouse and named it La Paisible, a title that perfectly encapsulated her desire for a retreat from public life. The estate became her true home, a place of refuge and creative freedom.

Inside La Paisible: The 12-Bedroom Manor That Became a Sanctuary

La Paisible is more than just a house; it is a sprawling, historic estate with an Architectural Grade 2 status, ensuring its heritage is preserved. The property is located just off the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), surrounded by the picturesque vineyards and rolling hills of the Vaud countryside.

The Astonishing Scale and Features of the Estate

The sheer size of La Paisible often surprises those who picture Hepburn in a quaint cottage. This manor is a substantial country home that provided ample space for her family, her love of gardening, and her many dogs.

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• The Main Residence: The primary manor house boasts approximately 1,055 square meters (about 11,356 square feet) of living space.
• Bedrooms and Bathrooms: The estate features an impressive 12 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, spread across the main house and several annexes. This scale allowed Hepburn to host family and friends discreetly.
• The Grounds: The property sits on a massive plot of 16,328 square meters (over 4 acres), though some reports suggest the surrounding land and gardens were even more extensive. These grounds include manicured lawns, mature trees, and extensive gardens.
• The Asking Price: When the property was recently listed, it carried a significant price tag, reported to be in the range of $20.8 million to $21 million USD, reflecting its size, historical significance, and prime Swiss location.

The interior of La Paisible reflects Hepburn’s personal style: elegant, comfortable, and unpretentious. Unlike the gilded cages of other celebrity homes, it was filled with books, simple furniture, and fresh flowers from her garden. The estate’s subtle luxury was a quiet backdrop to her life, not the main event.

The Simple Life: How Audrey Hepburn Found Peace in Tolochenaz

Hepburn’s life in Tolochenaz was a radical departure from her Hollywood years. She traded premieres and film sets for the quiet rhythm of Swiss country life, focusing on domesticity, her garden, and her passionate work for UNICEF. This life of intentional simplicity is perhaps the most enduring aspect of her time at La Paisible.

Gardening, Cooking, and Humanitarianism

One of the most frequently mentioned details about her life at La Paisible is her deep connection to the land. Hepburn was an avid gardener who grew her own vegetables and flowers, embracing a life of self-sufficiency.

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• The Beloved Garden: Her garden was her passion project. She often spoke of the joy of planting, weeding, and harvesting, a stark contrast to the scripted roles of her past. This simple, hands-on activity was a major source of her "peaceful place" philosophy.
• Domestic Bliss: With her partner, Robert Wolders, she established a warm, stable home environment. She loved to cook, often preparing simple Italian dishes and focusing on healthy, garden-fresh ingredients.
• The UNICEF Years: It was from La Paisible that Hepburn launched her tireless and impactful work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in the late 1980s. The quiet stability of her Swiss home provided the base she needed to travel the world advocating for children in need, from Ethiopia to Vietnam.

The people of Tolochenaz were famously discreet, respecting her privacy and allowing her to live as a normal resident, not a global icon. This discretion was deeply valued by Hepburn and cemented her affection for the Vaud region. Her connection to the village remains profound; she is buried in the small, unassuming cemetery of Tolochenaz, a short distance from La Paisible, alongside her mother, Ella van Heemstra. The simplicity of her grave, often adorned with flowers from her admirers, is a final testament to the private, peaceful life she achieved in Switzerland.

The Enduring Legacy of La Paisible

The recent listing of La Paisible highlights its status as a unique piece of cinematic and cultural history. While the property is a private residence and not open to the public, its existence serves as a powerful symbol of Hepburn’s journey—from a wartime childhood and the dizzying heights of Hollywood fame to a final, tranquil chapter dedicated to family and philanthropy. For fans and real estate investors alike, owning La Paisible means owning a tangible piece of the "peaceful place" where one of the world's most beloved stars found her final, most authentic role.