Amongst the busyness of the summertime, we were fortunate to spend a few magical, sunny days and starry summer nights in Paris. Traversing the paths of history through old, cobblestone streets, enjoying the shade beneath the trees of the city’s picturesque parks and gardens and meandering through museums and galleries. We enjoyed brioche for breakfast, lemon tarts for lunch and all sorts of delicious delicacies for dinner!
Following our time in Paris, we thought to share a small journal of our travels around the city. We hope you enjoy a few photos and some recommendations for your next visit. And so, without further ado…
Upon deciding to travel to Paris, there was no question of where we wished to stay - the Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais. We have been friends on Instagram for quite some time and had begun following their page after reading an article about the hotel in Victoria Magazine several years ago. It had been our dream to stay there ever since.
They have always been so very sweet and supportive of the work at the Château and during our stay the owner very kindly introduced himself and shared more about his own work that he had undertaken at the hotel. As it turns out, he had entirely renovated the building - in some cases rebuilding ceilings and floors just like us. During the renovations, he kept all of the original wooden beams in place to make sure that the hotel kept its authenticity.
Guarding its original spirit as an elegant, Parisien townhouse, the front façade is painted a ravishing, royal blue and as you approach glass front windows reveal delicate, floral wallpaper adoring the walls and original 18th Century antiquities decorating a charming lobby.
In our room, French doors opened onto a Juliet balcony, upon which we enjoyed breakfast one morning. Our delightful petit-déjeuner was served on large, wicker tray filled to the brim with croissants, pain au chocolat, freshly made hot chocolate and all sorts of sweet and savoury treats.
Staying there truly felt like a dream, experiencing all of the beauty and romance that Paris is known for. Of course, adding to the magic of this most charming setting that we stayed in was all of the beauty of Paris itself. There are so many wonderful sites to visit and experiences to have in Paris but here we share just a few of our favourite from this visit…
The magic of Paris pulls on our heartstrings,
These were a few of our favourite things…
A sunset promenade beside the Seine across the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. We timed this with a concert of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons at Saint Chapelle and it was truly such a memorable evening,
Sipping a traditional Kir Royale beside the Place des Vosges. The perfect place for some relaxation and repose!
Visiting the Musée Jacquemart-André. This is one of our favourite museums in Paris, along with the Musée Carnavalet. Sharing all of the beauty, opulence and grandeur of the 18th Century,
Ambling down the tree-lined allées of the Luxembourg Gardens… with a crêpe in hand of course!
Visiting Galerie Vivienne on our way to Drouot, a multi-storey auction house in the heart of the city. Galerie Vivienne is our favourite spot for finding postcards in Paris!
Inspecting the specimens at the Gallery of Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy. This is a more unusual recommendation but it is the perfect place to visit for any avid museum visitor,
Exploring the Vanves flea markets for antique treasures. Although the selection at Vanves is smaller than the more famous Saint Ouen flea markets, the prices are much more reasonable. Just make sure you have a large enough suitcase for all your treasures!
And finally, walking up the grand, marble staircase and exploring the gold gilded salons of the Palais Garnier…
