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The magical and charming Ile St. Louis is one of Paris’ oldest, best preserved and most convenient neighborhoods. The small island just beyond the Notre Dame end of the Ile de La Cite is often described as a village in the middle of Paris. The apartment building is on the river at the corner of Quai d’Orleans and rue Boutarel.
Across the river on one side is the left bank (la rive gauche). Within easy walking distance is the Boulevard St. Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Sorbonne, Luxembourg Gardens, the Tour d’Argent and 100s of other restaurants. Across the opposite bridge on the la rive droit is the Hotel De Ville, the Marais, the Place des Voges, the Musees Picasso, Carnavalet and 100s more restaurants.
Cross the bridge in front of you to Notre Dame. Continue for a minute to Sainte Chappelle, then the Place Dauphine and after strolling along the Seine for 5 minutes the Louvre. Boutiques and shopping are everywhere.
The tiny streets of the Ile boast many small restaurants that range from casual to upscale fine dining. The Ile offers a cheese shop some think the best in Paris, several boulangaries, patiserries, wine shops, butchers, vegetable shops, cafes and the famous Paris ice cream company Berthillon. In the morning take a thermos of coffee and watch the day come alive from a bench on the water level promenade that surrounds the island. In the evening musicians, people walking their dogs, couples sitting and drinking wine and the truly lucky populate the promenade.
There are 3 convenient Metro stations - Pont Marie, Cite and Place Maubert Mutalite.
4 Rue Boutarel was built in the 17th century. It is entered through a classic, large green carriage door with a separate pedestrian entrance. The inner corridor is limestone and opens into a lovely courtyard.
The 900 square foot, two level apartment was recently entirely rebuilt and decorated by an American designer who is a committed Francophile. Our pied-a-terre allows you, if even only for a week, to experience the life of a Parisian. It is no accident that the apartment reminds you of those wonderful antique filled environments you have seen in dozens of films set in Paris.
The entry level contains a foyer, salon (living room), bedroom, kitchen, dining area and an American size but French style bathroom. The floors throughout are Versailles pattern oak or tumbled marble. The original 17th century hand-hewn ceiling beams (putres) are exposed and antique crystal chandeliers light the upstairs. All of the main level bedroom cabinetry and some of the kitchen cabinetry were painted by Jean Pierre Besenval, a well known Parisian artisan.
The bedroom furniture was custom made by an eboniste in southern France. The living room fireplace came from a country house in the Loire. The walls are Venetian plaster and decorated with oil paintings, tapestries and fine antique lithographs.
The fully equipped kitchen (coffee maker, food processor, orange juicer, etc.) has oak cabinets and granite counter tops. Copper pots from the famous Dehellerin cookware store (favorite of Julia Child) hang from a pot rack over the cooktop and convection/convention oven. The dishwasher and fridge are hidden behind oak fronts.
Cable TV with English speaking channels and Stereos are on both levels. Telephone service to the US is included at no charge.
A circular stairway leads to the limestone, barrel vaulted, lower level which was in the 17th century a traditional French cave. The custom made leaded glass windows surrounding the stairwell can be curtained off from the upstairs bedroom for privacy and left open for light during the day. The lower level includes a charming bedroom, a salon with pull out bed, a bathroom and a laundry room. The floors are oak and marble and covered with oriental carpets. |
