Before sharing his life with Laeticia, Johnny Hallyday had several great love stories, including one with Nathalie Baye in the early 1980s. The actress passed away at the age of 77 after a long illness on April 17, 2026. Together, they formed one of the most iconic couples of their time, united by passion, music, and cinema. Their relationship brought forth Laura Smet in 1983. During this time, the couple enjoyed escaping the hustle and bustle of Paris to recharge in the countryside, in a charming house located in Vallièvre, a small village in the heart of Creuse.
This building, owned by Nathalie Baye for nearly thirty years, was the setting for many family memories. It was where the two artists retreated whenever they could, enjoying the calm and simplicity of country life. However, in 2008, the actress made the decision to sell the property, valued at around 600,000 euros, to a couple from South Africa.
A charming residence turned into a ghost
Since this transaction, the house has not seen the same life. Today, the property is abandoned, a bitter realization for the village residents. The mayor of Vallièvre, Valérie Bertin, stated to Le Parisien, “We have only had one contact with the new owners. It is now up to the municipality to ensure maintenance when the vegetation overflows from the land. Its condition has deteriorated significantly over the years.”
This situation saddens both the residents and fans of the singer, with some even contacting the town hall to inquire about visiting the place to pay homage to the departed idol. In the 1980s, the presence of the couple in Vallièvre left a mark on the village. Johnny Hallyday and Nathalie Baye led a simple life, far from the glamour of showbiz and tours. “We saw them shopping in the village,” recalled a resident quoted by Le Parisien.
A lingering regret for Nathalie Baye
The resident continued, “Johnny always had a kind word, always a smile. Sometimes we would see him driving his luxury cars, one of which displayed his initials, JH, on the bodywork. A true star.” Nathalie Baye had expressed multiple times that she would have liked to keep this house, as she was deeply attached to the place full of memories. The mayor added, “Of course, we would have liked a different fate for this beautiful house,” noting that Vallièvre has often attracted artists, like Claude Miller’s family or director Luc Béraud.
Even today, despite its abandonment, the residence of Vallièvre remains a symbol of a bygone era, that of a free and sincere love between two French icons. A place frozen in time, still echoing with the past of Johnny Hallyday and Nathalie Baye.
