Arielle Dombasle and Bernard-Henri Lévy: A Love story of Art, Intellect, and Extravagance
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A captivating blend of glamour and philosophical rigor, the marriage of actress Arielle dombasle and intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy has fascinated observers for decades. Since 1993, the couple has cultivated a public persona defined by a shared passion for art, culture, and a decidedly opulent lifestyle.
A chance Encounter on a Book Cover
The unlikely romance began not with a grand gesture, but with an image. dombasle revealed in a 2020 interview that she first fell in love with Lévy after seeing his photograph on the cover of one of his books. At the time, both were involved with others – Dombasle was married to dentist Paul Albou, and Lévy was also in a relationship. Despite these circumstances, Dombasle felt an immediate and powerful connection. “I was literally struck by lightning,” she recalled, prompting her to attend a book signing event to meet the philosopher. Lévy, seemingly equally affected, inscribed her copy with the words, “To Arielle, in the meantime…”
A Cinematic Second Meeting in milan
Their paths crossed again in Milan, Italy, in a scene seemingly lifted from a film. Lévy recounted that he and Dombasle encountered each other while leaving separate events – he, a psychoanalysis conference, and she, a shoe store near the famed La Scala opera house. “Second great love at first sight,” Lévy confided,adding that thay “knew we would be inseparable” in that suspended moment. The couple formalized their union on June 19, 1993, in Saint-Paul de Vence.
A Moroccan Palace and a Life of Luxury
In 1998, five years after their marriage, Dombasle and Lévy acquired the Zahia Palace in Marrakech, Morocco.previously owned by billionaire John Paul Getty Junior and sold to them by actor Alain Delon, the palace – nicknamed the “palace of pleasures” – boasts a central patio, intricately carved wood, and an exotic garden complete with a swimming pool. The property’s proximity to the royal palace of Marrakech further enhances its allure. The couple reportedly spent around 2 million euros to acquire the residence,according to reports.
However, the Moroccan palace is just one piece of an extensive real estate portfolio. Lévy himself acknowledged in 2017 that his life resembles “a world tour in a luxury version,” dividing his time between residences in Paris, New York, and Marrakech. Their primary residence is located in Paris’s chic 8th arrondissement, near the Élysée Palace, an apartment purchased in 2012. Prior to that, Lévy owned a 350 m apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, acquired in 2004.
At one point, the couple even resided in a luxurious suite at the Raphaël hotel, offering a direct view of the Arc de Triomphe. Beyond France and the United States,
Why did they get together? Arielle Dombasle was initially captivated by a photograph of Bernard-Henri Lévy on a book cover, leading to a meeting at a book signing. A second, fateful encounter in Milan solidified their connection.Who are they? Arielle Dombasle is a French actress and singer, while Bernard-Henri Lévy is a prominent French philosopher, writer, and public intellectual. What
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