Saint Paul, Place des Vosges – 6 appartments

Artists, creators, new trends… It’s a lively Paris that awaits you. In the Saint Paul village that surrounds the street of the same name, take an improvised romantic stroll through its inner courtyards. And why not browse a little, to soak up some of the many designers, antique dealers and galleries? Before you head to the upbeat Marais, have a peek into the sublime Hôtel de Beauvais (68 rue François Miron) where Mazarin, Anne of Austria and Mozart liked to go. Walk past the Hotel Sens, reminiscent of a castle with its medieval city architecture (1 rue du figuier).

Small restaurants, bars, theater cafes and trendy shops blend with the charm of this historical district. The rue Vieille du Temple displays row upon row of beautiful town houses. The old shopfronts and workshops in rue des Francs Bourgeois and rue Roi de Sicile are testaments to the working class character of the district in yesteryear: at No. 30, discover an old butchery in mosaic.

A little further on, the pedestrian rue des Rosiers, in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, is a compilation of falafel snacks, old Ashkenazi shops and picturesque old houses. If you feel like it’s time for a rest, step into Place des vosges, a peaceful square where Victor Hugo, Théophile Gautier and Simenon once lived. Lined with tea rooms, boutiques and antique shops, it was, after the Kings, the the favourite spot of the high-class bourgeoisie, bankers and rich merchants. Before you leave, don’t forget to visit the Hotel de Sully of pure renaissance style, where some scenes from the film “Les liaisons dangereuses” were shot. Its bookstore is beautiful, too.