An inexpensive nice hotel in Paris Marais : hôtel Jeanne d’Arc

If you don’t intend to spend too much on hotel nights in Paris, you still have the opportunity to stay in a most lovely and quiet little street in the Marais, rue de Jarente, one of the ways to place du Marché Sainte-Catherine.

Hotel Jeanne d’Arc is almost at the corner of rue de Turenne, and close to place des Vosges, it is a simple but uncommon hotel.

It is the perfect spot for people who like to walk around, the Marais is a full of beautiful town houses and places, it is quite romantic too, and it is also a good place for shopping. If you are interested in museums, musée Carnavalet is next door, Musée Picasso and Beaubourg are a at a few minutes walk.

After such a busy day, you deserve a good night sleep. Unless you wish to take a night cap close by at the bar de Jarente. On the opposite side of the street, have a look at the Fontaine de Jarente, which was designed in 1783 by Caron, the architect who built the marché Sainte-Catherine, an who gave his name to the other way to the square.

Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc, 3 rue de Jarente 75004 Paris tel 33(0)1 48 87 62 11, fax 33(0)1 48 87 37 31. Price for a room with a a large bed : 84 euros, with two beds 97 euros, baby’s bed provided, breakfast 6 euros (served in your room or in the dining room). information@hoteljeannedarc.com

Paris Montagne Sainte-Geneviève 2 : on top, the Panthéon

Should you leave place de la Contrescarpe by rue Descartes and take a left on rue Clovis, or should you take a right place de l’Estrapade on rue Clotilde, you’d get to the same point. It’s only natural, since Clotilde was king Clovis wife. It’s on top of the hill, place du Panthéon. Here is a view from rue Clotilde :

The building of Panthéon was decided by king Louis XV to replace the ruined church of Sainte Geneviève and architect Jacques Germain Soufflot had its foundations laid in 1758. But it was completed only in 1789, after Soufflot’s death, and French Revolution had begun : this was no longer going to be a church, but a mausoleum for great Frenchmen.

Here is Voltaire’s grave and statue in the crypt.

The name “Pantheon” comes from Greek “all the gods”, and on the building’s pediment you can read : “Aux grands hommes la patrie reconnaissante”. It’s a major example of neo classical style.

The view from Pantheon’s steps on rue Soufflot going down to Luxembourg garden and Eiffel Tower in the distance:

Next to the Panthéon, on its right, a beautiful eighteen century house : l’hôtel des grands hommes.

It’s name refers of course to to great men buried opposite, but also to some of its customers. André Breton and Philippe Soupault stayed there testing “automatic writing” and “les Champs Magnétiques” were written here . Besides, its a still a nice place to stay.

Behind Pantheon, on the left, an actual church : l’église Saint-Etienne du Mont.

It’s a spectacular composite building, mixed of flamboyant gothic and early baroque style, and it’s really worth coming in.

It has a magnificent mid sixteen century jube:

and beautiful stained glass windows, as well as one of the most ancient organs.

And from Saint-Etienne du Mont, you can start coming down.

And going down Montagne Sainte-Geneviève why not stop for a glass of wine, and may be some oysters at “Les Pipos“.

It’s a sympathetic genuine place which interior setting hasn’t change for ages.

Les Pipos : 2 rue de l’école polytechnique 75005 Paris, tel 33(0) 1 43 54 11 40 , closed on Sunday. Virtual visit on http://www.les-pipos.com/

Hôtel des Grands Hommes : 17 place du Panthéon 75005 Paris, tel 33(0)1 46 34 19 60, for prices, reservation and more information : http://www.hoteldesgrandshommes.com/index-fr.html

Panthéon : open everyday 10 to 18 (last visit 17h15) price 7euros 50, tel 33(0)1 44 32 18 00 or 33(0)1 44 32 18 01. For a virtual visit, and more information : http://pantheon.monuments-nationaux.fr/

The nearest subway station to place du Panthéon : RER B Luxembourg

A charming hotel in a Paris charming area

Next to Montagne Sainte Geneviève, Panthéon and Arènes de Lutèce is one of the loveliest and quietest Paris hotel, l’hôtel des Grandes Ecoles.

You get in from rue du Cardinal Lemoine, and step in a garden in front of lovely houses that take you back to nineteen century.

Rooms are pretty and comfortable, and main floor ones are particularly charming on sunny days. People at the desk are very friendly. Prices from 110 to 135 euros for one or two people. The hotel has only 21 rooms, so it is better to make an early reservation.

Hotel des Grandes Ecoles 75 rue du Cardinal Lemoine 75005 Paris 33(0) 1 43 26 79 23, fax 33(0)1 43 25 28 15, mail : Hotel.Grandes.Ecoles@orange.fr

More information, virtual visit and booking on : http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/

Paris : a room with a view, on top of “Palais de Tokyo”

Last October, in Paris Trocadéro, a strange green space capsule was hovering over Palais de Tokyo, which harbors the site of contemporary art creation.

Everland hotel had landed in Paris. It was created by two Swiss artists, Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann for a swiss national exhibition in 2002.

In Paris it is shown as a sculpture and occupied as hotel room from yesterday November 1 up to next year’s end.

Everland hotel’s only room is booked up to 2008 January 1, so at the present time you can make a reservation on Wednesday January 2 , if you wish to start the year in an unusual and spectacular way.

You can’t book for more than a single night : 333 euros on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 444 euros on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays - Mondays closed - .

Price includes free use of minibar contents, a collection of selected vinyl records for the mood, breakfast in bed, and you may feel free to leave with the embroidered bath towels.

Good night, sweet dreams.

More information, virtual visit and postcards, reservation for real on : http://www.everland.ch/

Paris: for fashion victims and design lovers, 2 hotels by Christian Lacroix

In Paris, you have two opportunities to go to sleep and wake up in a colorful elegant bedroom outfitted by French fashion designer Christian Lacroix, and have only two minutes walk to get to a museum.

On last July opened Hôtel Bellechasse on the left bank, near Musée d’Orsay and Rodin museum.

Both photos from http://www.holychic.com/

34 rooms, from 200 to 340 euros, not more expensive than other Paris hotels of same grade, and certainly more fun.

Hôtel Bellechasse, 8 rue Bellechasse 75007 Paris tel 33(0)1 45 50 22 31 mail : info@lebellechasse.com Métro Solferino, RER Musée d’Orsay (line C)

For a virtual visit, information and reservation : http://www.lebellechasse.com/

Hôtel du petit moulin is in the Marais, close to Picasso Museum.

It was built in seventeenth century building, at the corner of rue de Poitou and rue Saintonge, where a bakery stood in 1900, and outside has kept it’s original look.

Rooms from 180 to 290 euros.

Hôtel du Petit Moulin 29 rue de Poitou 75003 Paris tel : 33(0)1 42 74 10 10 Mail : contact@hoteldupetitmoulin.com Metro Filles du Calvaire or Saint-Sébastien - Froissard.

For more information and reservation : http://www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com/index.html

Hôtel Lindbergh in Paris, good situation, good rates.

You can’t fly Air France today ? Why not stay at the Lindbergh hotel?

A familial but classy hotel, rooms have been recently renovated. It’s located in a small quiet street between shopping streets. It’s near the “Bon Marché“, the left bank department store, which despite its name is the most fashionable of all.

A nice hall with a typical Paris staircase, but wi fi connection and computer for customers’ use.

Rooms and bathrooms are fine, at a bargain price of 116 euros, which can get lower if you stay several days.

Last but not least, the whole hotel staff is very nice. And the jazzy hotel site gives you an idea of this fine spirit.

Hôtel Lindbergh, 5 rue Chomel 75007 Paris, tel : 33(0)1 45 48 35 53, Métro Sèvres-Babylone.

Virtual visit and reservation at : http://www.hotellindbergh.com/