Marais - Unique 'Country Cottage in Heart of Paris' Romantic Garden Apartment
About the property
- Apartment320 sqft
- Bedrooms0
- Sleeps4
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 - 5 nights
Apartment, Studio + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath, (Sleeps 2-4)
Le Marais, 3rd arrondissement, Paris, France. On Rue Charlot. Ground floor on garden courtyard. Sleeps two to four. MINIMUM STAY: Generally 5 nights for advanced reservations for high season, and 3 nights for low season. However, we are open to any stay that fits well with the existing calendar. Just ask by SENDING EMAIL -- NOT by requesting to book!!
THE BEST ROMANTIC HIDEAWAY IN THE MARAIS. That's our goal, and judging by over 150 FIVE STAR REVIEWS, we hope we have succeeded. What is more, from detailed instructions for arrival to reserving restaurants or taxis for you, we go out of our way to make your stay easy and trouble-free.
FORMERLY A 17TH c. ARTISAN'S WORKSHOP! This beautiful completely renovated garden apartment is located in what was once an artisan's workshop in the days of Marie Antoinette. Located on the historic courtyard of a classic Parisian building in the Marais, it is among the oldest in Paris. The age of the building will be obvious when you first see the exposed posts and beams -- called 'colombage' -- in the courtyard itself, recalling the way all of Paris looked in the 17th century.
LIKE A COUNTRY COTTAGE IN THE HEART OF PARIS. With its short pitch of tiled roof and its double French doors and French windows opening onto the garden, it's a one-of-a-kind, romantic oasis of calm in the Marais. The old world charm combines with modern amenities, a high quality bed, a luxurious bath, and a well-equipped kitchen to make an ideal Parisian retreat.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY QUIET GARDEN APARTMENT, you will forget that the center of Paris is just outside, and feel as if you are in the countryside watching the birds out in the garden. The exceptional quiet means GOOD SLEEPING on the high quality bed that's been fit into a French antique, hand-crafted frame. Please read our visitors' comments -- many mention how quiet it is.
RENOVATED BY A DESIGNER with international travelers in mind, the result is a successful amalgam of old world noble materials and modern style. The apartment consists of one big room that serves as bedroom and living area, a separate and fully equipped kitchen, and a full deluxe bath. In the main room and bath are beautiful exposed stone walls, and the original thick oak beams are exposed on the ceiling as well. In fact, the beams are older than the building -- there are signs that they were recycled when the building was built.
DETAILS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. The floor has wide oak boards in the main room, with a welcoming antique killim rug, and antique stone tile in the kitchen and bath. Throughout there are clean lines and harmonious touches of color, giving a very aesthetically pleasing, peaceful ambience.
QUALITY BEDDING. Hand carving graces the antique bed frame, while the bed itself is high quality. For bedding, there are down and synthetic comforters (your choice), 100% cotton blankets, 100% cotton sheets, and six French pillows. The exceptional quiet of this apartment will further enhance sleep. The sofa is large and comfortable, and hides a comfortable full-sized bed should it be needed. An antique Paris bistro style table sits by the window for meals (expanding to seat four) and a wooden table serves as a small desk. (There are extra folding chairs available.)
WIFI -- AND LOW TECH, TOO. The high speed WiFi works flawlessly. Hidden away is a flat screen TV with more than 40 digital channels including CNN and BBC, and a DVD/CD/MP3 player with radio. There is an iPhone compatible alarm clock, a phone, and an answering machine. There is a whole library of Paris guidebooks. You will also find classical, jazz, and other CD's, many DVDs (including classic Paris movies), shelves full of interesting books, and reading lamps.
A VERY WELL-EQUIPPED KITCHEN, AND MORE. The kitchen has lots of charm and modern appliances: a full-size oven, four burner stovetop, built-in refrigerator with freezer, microwave, toaster, hand mixer, and coffee maker. It is also well-equipped with all utensils for cooking and eating -- more than you will find in most rentals. The bath is beautifully done with deluxe modern fixtures, a large bathtub, a deluxe shower (it's superb!), and both a washing machine and dryer tucked away in a closet. A hidden extra is a double-size hot water heater, so you should not run out. There is also a hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and vacuum cleaner. All linens, towels, and soap are supplied.
AN EXCEPTIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD. Steps away on the corner, you will find the wonderful open air Marche des Enfants Rouge, the oldest market in Paris. Rue Bretagne has its own offering of excellent shops including butchers, bakers, traiteurs, wine, fruits and vegetables, and right on the corner one of the best fromagers (cheese shops) in the city. There are also two supermarkets conveniently nearby. The neighborhood is chock-full of antique shops, funky designers, and art galleries on the narrow streets. There are many great little restaurants and cafes with terraces, as well as charming Parisian parks.
IN THE CENTER OF PARIS. The Picasso Museum is literally just around the corner, as is all the rest that the Marais has to offer, from the magnificent Hotels Particuliers (17th century city mansions), many housing museums, to the famous Place des Vosges. You can easily walk to Hotel de Ville in about 15 minutes, and then Notre Dame and the other major sites along the Seine. The Pompidou Center is also right close by. There are several Metro stations nearby, and bus lines that run through the Marais.
SAFE AND SECURE. The apartment is very secure: To get in the building requires both a code to get in the main door and then a key to get through an iron security gate. The door of the apartment itself has a high security lock. The windows have security blinds that close tightly over them if you want to leave for any length of time, and the windows themselves also have locks. In short, there are more security features than you need! Especially for this lovely, safe and quiet upscale neighborhood.
WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE YOUR VISIT A PLEASURE! We will answer whatever questions you have before you arrive, and provide detailed instructions for getting to the apartment. The day you arrive, someone will meet you, help with your luggage, and show you into the apartment. We accommodate early arrivals and late departures. We also routinely organize taxis for the day of departure -- they come right to the door to pick you up. In the apartment, you will find loads of guidebooks, other information on Paris, and a binder full of detailed information on the apartment, the neighborhood, and more -- where the best bakery is, nearby restaurants we recommend, how to get a taxi, where to park, and so on. We are happy to help make reservations for you. If you have any problems in Paris, we'll try to help. Our goal is to help you live in the neighborhood like a local French person -- an experience you would never have in a hotel -- while minimizing hassles and maximizing your enjoyment.
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION: The best way to contact us initially is by email. We will respond as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours. If you do not receive a reply, please call us as there may have been a problem with the reception of the email.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: We have OVER 150 REVIEWS, all positive! After the HomeAway takeover, VRBO erased a large number of our reviews and they refuse to put any back that are more than one year old. We've been renting our apartment for longer than most others in Paris and feel their policy is misleading and unfair. If you'd like to see the other reviews, just let us know.
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Keywords: Paris Marais, Vacation Apartment, Garden Apartment, Holiday Flat, Large Studio
Owner
Chris
- Response rate:
- 90%
- Response time:
- within one day
- Speaks:
- english, french
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 21, 2018
About Chris
Joelle is French, and a professor of French literature. Chris is American, but has spent most of his adult life here in France. We like to make this apartment available to travelers, like ourselves, who wish to immerse themselves in the local culture and would not have it be changed to suit them. And we want to make it the way we'd like to find an apartment in another city -- beautiful, clean, with a very good bed, and outfitted with everything one might need. Voila!
Chris purchased this Apartment in 2004
Why Chris chose Enfants-Rouges
This will be our 'pied-a-terre' when we move from Paris. It is a wonderful little island of calm in the center of the city -- and our favorite neighborhood. We love the old world stone and beams -- the way a Paris apartment should be -- and the garden outside the windows makes you feel as though you could be in the countryside.
What makes this Apartment unique
Having the center of Paris at your doorstep! And the Marais and our neighborhood, in particular. It is like a little village in the heart of Paris. Plus, the apartment is truly quiet -- a haven of peace in the middle of the big city.
Amenities
- Internet
- Heater
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- Parking
- TV
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 0 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4
- Main bed1 double, A high quality mattress, firm but not hard.
- Sofa bed1 double, Quality sofa bed of ingenious design. Double, good support.
- Double BedA hand-carved French antique bed, with a brand new mattress set of the highest quality. Width is 140cm. Sleep Sofa: A very comfortable full-sized sofa bed with excellent support. The same size as the main bed.
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- A full bath with a generous full-sized bathtub, and a large deluxe shower fixture. A normal size clothes washing machine and a separate dryer are in a closet. A stack of thick towels, bath mats, and a full sized bar of quality soap are provided. Laundry soap and toilet paper are also provided.
Location Type
- DowntownIn the very center of Paris, in the nicest part of the Marais -- close to everything and yet not overrun with tourists.
Theme
- Away From It All
- Family
- Historic
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Linens Provided100% cotton linens, blankets, and towels, as well as two down comforters (one lightweight, one heavier weight). There is now also a synthetic comforter and good quality synthetic pillows.
- Broadband AccessADSL at up to 20 Mb/s
- Free Long DistanceUnlimited calls to fixed lines in 44 countries, free of charge! In some countries, unlimited calls to cell phones, too! (All phones in North America are free.) Contact us for more details.
- Hair Dryer
- HeatingSeveral quality electric heaters that you control. You can make it as cosy as you'd like.
- InternetHigh speed. No connection limits.
- Iron & Board
- Clothes DryerA full sized machine, in the unit for your exclusive use.
- Living Room
- ParkingWe will provide you with detailed information on parking options.
- Parking Off StreetAvailable in nearby private garage, at extra charge.
- TelephoneCordless phone with answering machine. Free calls to Paris and France. Free long distance, too! See details.
- Towels ProvidedA stack of thick cotton towels are provided. They are normal bath size. There are also small hand towels, and kitchen towels.
- Washing MachineA full sized machine, in the unit for your exclusive use.
- Wireless InternetHigh speed WIFI, easy to set up for either PC or Mac. Works well with iPhones and iPads.
Kitchen
- Coffee MakerThere are three: An electric drip machine, a stainless French press pot, and an Italian stovetop espresso maker.
- Cooking UtensilsThe kitchen is very well outfitted. There are good pots and pans, ovenware, a salad spinner, bowls, a full complement of utensils, and even a selection of spices.
- Dishes & UtensilsSmall and large plates, bowls, glasses, wine glasses, and utensils for 4-6 people. There are other items as well, such as coffee mugs, champagne glasses, a teapot and tea kettle, and so on.
- KitchenRefrigerator with freezer, full-sized built-in oven, modern 4 burner stovetop, large sink, microwave oven, toaster, electric and Italian coffee makers, and a French press pot.
- MicrowaveNew, very easy to use.
- OvenNew, modern full-sized. Quite a nice oven; very easy to use!
- Pantry ItemsThe pantry is 'revolving' -- we add things, and visitors leave many staples. As a result, there is usually a good stock of things for you to use.
- RefrigeratorWith freezer.
- StoveNew, modern full-sized, four burners.
- ToasterModern electric.
Dining
- DiningThe dining table is an antique wooden table such as were found in Paris bistros in the past. It is of ingenuous Italian design, with extensions that pull out. 2 wooden chairs, and 2 folding chairs.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 4 people
Entertainment
- BooksThere is a whole library of Paris guidebooks. There are several shelves full of good vacation reads, for all tastes. There is always a varied stack of good magazines as well.
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Music LibraryJazz and classical CDs, and several others as well.
- Satellite / CableMore than 40 digital channels, including CNN and BCC.
- StereoA good unit, with good sound. You can plug in your device.
- TelevisionModern flat screen, hidden away in a cabinet.
- Video LibraryA tall stack of DVDs, including a growing collection of films that take place in Paris.
Outside
- BicyclesWe do not have bicycles available, but we will let you know how to rent them, and also provide details for exceptional bike rides just outside of Paris.
Suitability
- limited accessibilityFrom the street, there are just three steps up and three steps down to get to the apartment door. Contact us if you need specific information regarding the bathroom, etc. Note that while we do NOT list the apartment as wheelchair accessible, some visitors in small wheelchairs have found it to be ok. Again, contact us if you need specific information.
Pool / Spa
- Communal PoolThere are many communal pools available in central Paris. Contact us if you'd like to use them.
Attractions
- museums
- botanical garden
- cinemas
- library
- live theater
- churches
- playground
- restaurants
- ruins
- synagogues
- zoo
Leisure Activities
- antiquing
- photography
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- cycling
- swimming
Notes
- Luxurious bathroom with American tub & Deluxe Shower, CD/DVD/MP3 player, Radio, Cordless Phone, Answering Machine, iPhone/iPod compatible Clock Radio, Fans, Refrigerator with Freezer, Oven, Stovetop, Toaster, Coffee Makers, Hand Mixer, Iron & Ironing board, 100% Cotton Linens & Towels, Original Oak beams & Old Stone Floors, Access to Garden Courtyard
House Rules
Check-in: Flexible
Check-out: Flexible
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
79 Reviews
Latest reviews
Another happy family!
Adding to the chorus of so many who have experienced Chris’s hospitality. He is an amazingly available (even when he’s offsite!) host, with helpful advice—he compiled a thorough guide to Paris & his home, which we used several times. The property caretaker, Sveta, was prompt and very helpful to settling us in. Really, our family of four had the best time. The neighborhood, the apartment ... even the weather! Thx so much, Chris.
Thank you, Stephanie, for taking the time to leave comments. I'm glad that I was able to help make your stay a special one. You put a lot into planning such a trip, so it's only right that I do my part!
All the best,
Chris
Perfect location, great place, great price
This apartment was perfect for our 15-year anniversary trip to Paris. Extremely well located and surrounded by outstanding restaurants, cafes, and bakeries in the northern Marais. What a great place. The owner was very helpful and everything from booking to check out was seamless. He even recommended an outstanding restaurant for us.
Wonderful, perfectly located, beautiful cottage!
This beautiful cottage was a highlight to the end of a mother/daughter trip to France. The cottage is beautifully decorated and perfectly located in the heart of a fun area of Paris. Chris thought of everything when planning, organizing, and setting up his property for travelers looking for a unique and comfortable experience. There are many books allowing for one to research daily activities, nice cookware which allows one to enjoy the goods bought at the market, and comfortable beds and furniture to provide a nice retreat from the bustling city. We were very grateful to our host for how extremely accommodating and willing to help he was with any of our questions, including recommending restaurants and setting up our taxi to the airport. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend it! We look forward to returning here on a future visit!
Beautiful property! Cozy and quiet, yet in the middle of a great neighborhood
So much fun in a really beautiful setting. We will definitely be back! The owner thought of everything we might need plus a few extra thoughtful things. Loved the flowers, a very nice touch!
Location, Location, Location! Design, Design, Design!!
Great pied a terre, wonderfully designed. Fabulous location - collect foodstuffs at Marche Bastille and Marche Infant Rouges in the morning, cook up a work of art in the evening. If you don’t feel like cooking hit the bistros. There are at least a half dozen within walking distance deserving of one star. The Book tells you everything you need to know. Had some noise issues and some dryer problems but there’s a laundry across the street. Met me some pretty local Parisians drying their delicate underthings. If I was single and 20 years younger. Sigh ...
Thanks for taking the time to leave comments. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the apartment and the location. On the dryer, the maid has confirmed that after 15 years it has given up the ghost! Apparently, it turns but no longer gets hot. A new one is already on order. On the noise you had the one night, as I mentioned in my email it's terribly rare that there is a dinner party in the building. In 15 years, there have been a total of three that I know of, counting this one! Most of the inhabitants are older, so it's usually dead quiet. Also it's worth knowing that Parisians, with a long history of living in close proximity to one another, are generally very polite about limiting noise. In these old buildings, it's easy to make too much and not be aware of it. A neighborly knock on the door or a phone call, and they will apologize and react. As indicated in our instructions, we would have been more than happy to make that call for you! In any event, sorry you had that happen the one evening, but I hope that you were able to enjoy the normal quiet for all the other nights.
Wonderful apartment in Paris!
We loved our stay in the apartment in the Marais. Apartment was clean, comfortable and well equipped. Lots of Parisianne character. We appreciated that is was on the ground floor and very quiet. Chris was very helpful and attentive - answered any questions promptly both before arrival and during our stay. The Marais area is filled with great restaurants, shops and lovely parks. We would highly recommend the apartment to all our friends and family and would definitely book again when we return to Paris. Thanks, Chris, for a memorable trip!
Location
Fine dining, Cafes, Antiques, Galleries, Picasso Museum, Centre Pompidou, Other Museums, Place des Vosges, Hotel de Ville, Open Air Markets, Marais Street Life, La Seine
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
Minimum number of nights varies by season and circumstances. For high season, usually 5 nights is required, but at any time of the year short stays can be possible if they fill holes or otherwise fit well with the calendar. It's best to send a request and we will let you know. Since we have visitors from all over the world using different payment methods, we ask that everyone pay whatever fees are associated with getting payment to us. We feel this is the most fair since fees vary widely, from zero for Europeans to quite high for those who insist on using old fashioned wires. Alternatively, we could raise our rates to cover the average fees, but this would not be fair to those who do not have to pay them. For many, currently PayPal is the most rapid and reasonable in terms of fees, and therefore our default choice. If you have a better method, just let us know!