Your Guide to Île Saint-Louis, Paris
As we prepare to welcome Owners at the new apartment in Paris, we asked Property Manager David Sprawls to give us a tour of the surrounding area.
Why Île Saint-Louis?
Île Saint-Louis holds a special place in the hearts of the French - elegant, exclusive, surrounded by water and a mere 11 hectares (110,000 square metres). It is home to approximately 4,500 fortunate residents. During the day there is quite some activity in the area but as the sun goes down, it becomes a magical retreat from the hustle and bustle of Paris.
Area Highlights:
- Hotel Lambert - a hotel particulier/grand mansion townhouse situated only steps from the apartment. Originally built in the early 1640's, Hotel Lambert has a long and storied history and it was home to many well-known people, including French actress Michèle Morgan, American socialite Mona von Bismarck, Baron Guy de Rothschild, Prince Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and many more.
- The Church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île - the only church on the island and a stunning example of French Baroque architecture.
- Place des Vosges - originally named Place Royale, is the oldest planned square in Paris. It is a great place for a picnic, or you can have coffee/tea and cakes at Carette on the north side of the square.
- Notre Dame de Paris - located on the Île de la Cité, just a short walk away. You can easily get there by a footbridge. Although it is currently closed for renovations there is a fantastic photo display (in French and English) along a wall on the north side of the church.
- The Marais or marsh - an authentic Parisian neighbourhood in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. This is the very oldest part of Paris and is not to be missed. It houses the Museum Picasso, the Carnavalet, the Pompidou museum, Hotel de Ville, Museum of the Art and History of Judaism, and more. There are also many hip boutiques, galleries, restaurants and bars.
- Sainte-Chapelle - a royal chapel with magnificent Gothic style on the Île de la Cité, only minutes away. It is a great place to see stunning stained-glass windows during the day as well as intimate evening concerts.
Favourite places to eat nearby:
- The world-famous Berthillon ice cream and sorbet comes from Île Saint-Louis. They are known for using fresh and high-quality ingredients. If you are on the island and see a line of people queueing, you can be sure that at the head of the line you'll find Berthillon.
- This week I had lunch at Le Saint-Regis, on the island, just up the street from the apartment. The daily special was Saumon en croute with a side of risotto. It was the most incredible meal I've had in a long time. The cream sauce with chervil and dill was heavenly.
What is your favourite aspect about this area?
- The apartment is located on an island in the middle of the Seine, making it the perfect location to be in the middle of Paris with easy access to everything. You can walk south and in 5 minutes you'll be on the Left Bank. Walk 5 minutes north and you'll be on the Right Bank.
- Île Saint-Louis prides itself in being one of the only places that is not directly touched by the Metro.
- From multiple cafés you can casually sit with an eye on the Seine and watch the river traffic go by.
