Champollion - Left Bank Rooftop Duplex • St-Germain-des-Prés 2 Bedroom

5eme ardt, Paris, France
metro: Cluny la Sorbonne (Line 10); Odéon (Line 4, 10)
size: 65m2 or 700 Sq Ft.
sleeps: up to 4
baths: 1
Air conditioning: No (fans provided)
Walk-Up: Yes

 
This charming and calm 2 bedroom apartment is located 5 flights up to the top floor of a beautiful 17th century building in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Located right off the Place de la Sorbonne with its world-famous university, it is virtually a stone's throw to the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens with the famous Saint Germain shopping quarter right behind, and only a 5-minute walk to the Seine with the Notre Dame cathedral just across the bridge on the Ile de la Cité, the heart of medieval Paris.

This rooftop duplex has its original beam-work throughout and antique floor tiles in the entrance, giving it the feeling of a country house in the middle of Paris. Open and airy, it is furnished for comfort and coziness in warm, rich hues, with many of its features such as stairwell, mantelpiece, sinks and cabinetry having been sourced from "brocantes," the French answer to antique markets.

Recently renovated by its Franco-American owner, the apartment is a mix of arty and old-worldly, with many of the decorative elements having been brought back from around-the-world travels. Every aspect having been painstakingly thought out and chosen to create an atmosphere of warmth and serenity; the only danger is that once you arrive, you never want to leave!

Its newly-created bathroom has antique stone travertine tiles throughout, along with rich wood flooring that makes it a pleasure to step out of the bathtub and on to. The petite yet functional kitchen has all new appliances including gas cooktop, electric oven, and Miele washer and dryer. Just past the antique ceramic sink and the separative oak bar, the kitchen opens onto the dining area of the long, rectangular living space with its country dining room table on one end next to the decorative fireplace, and the living area with its couch you just want to sink into, opposite. Flooded with light from the living room double windows and two skylights, one really does feel tucked up and away under Paris' rooftops; a lovely respite from the busy streets below.

The living area provides a flat-screen television, which comes with English-speaking channels including BBC, CNN, & ESPN Sports, a VCR and an all-zone DVD player with the owner's large selection of movies to pick from. Free international calls to landlines in 63 countries as well as to mobile phones in the US and Canada is also provided.

The two bedrooms, each with queen-sized bed — one upstairs, one downstairs — are perfect for retiring to after a long day spent sightseeing. The downstairs bedroom, which faces the courtyard, provides absolute silence, while upstairs one drifts off surrounded by the stunning 350 year-old beams that are the apartment’s bones, but also its heart.

Please note:
* As the 2nd bedroom is up the steep, narrow staircase you see in the photos, this apartment may not be ideal for guests traveling with small children.
* Due to limited space in the bathroom, the hot water heater in this apartment has a small capacity. We would estimate that it has about 12 minutes worth of hot water when at full shower pressure. The tank then takes about 30 minutes to refill completely with hot water.