A 90 minutes walk around Parc Monceau.

This very leisurely walk passes through the exquisite late 18th-century Parc Monceau. It then follows a route along surrounding streets, where groups of opulent mansions stunningly convey the magnificence in which some Parisians live.

The walk starts at the Monceau metro station, on the boulevard de Courcelles. You will enter the Parc where Nikola ledoux 18th century toll house stands. Each side has beautiful gilded 19th-century wrought iron gates, they support ornate lampposts.

If you take the second path on the left you will come across the house of Guy de Maupassant, a 19th-century French author. This is only one of a series of six Belle Epoque monuments of prominent French writers and musicians which are scattered throughout the Parc Monceau.

Straight ahead is is a moss -covered colonnade running around a tiny lake. Walk around the colonnade and under a 16th-century arch, actually transported from the old Paris Hotel de Ville.

 

If you want to re-enter the parc , turn left into the second small winding path, which is bordered by an 18th-centurymossy pyramid, antique tombs and a stone arcade , an obelisk and a small Chinese pagoda.

Advertisement

I love Paris in the Fall

Tags

Anouschka, Chanel, high end clothing, Paris shopping, personal shopper, Yves Saint Laurent

Besides doing travel, Anne Suire is also a personal shopper, born and raised in Paris she is still in the know about the city of lights. For $ 1,500 a day, she will take you and your friends to the chic boutiques of Paris and make sure that you get the best treatment from the snooty sales assistants that your hard-earned greenbacks deserve. Just in case  you don’t have an extra few thousand to unload, here are some good advice.

• Never wear sneakers. Definitely a giveaway that you are a tourist and invite inferior service.
• It maybe silly but carry a designer’s shopping bag with you, even if you have to borrow one from a friend. It will probably give you shopping credibility. On the off chance that you buy something, have the store send it to your hotel.
• If you don’t speak French , a ” Bonjour madame”, and a friendly smile should help because they will think that you mean business.
• If by any chance you run out of steam in the middle of the afternoon, head out to a designer store such as Chanel, Prada or Yves Saint-Laurent, they usually oblige!.
• Parisian store keepers usually work reasonable hours. They shut their stores at 7PM every weeknight and are closed all day Sunday.
• Finally, for an only-in-Paris shopping experience , try to snag an appointment at
  

  Anouschka in Paris.

  

  Anouschka high end Antique clothing.

  Anouschka  (

  

  Anne Suire.

  33-1-48-74-37-00). Located in the 9th district, if you like high-end vintage fans, you have come to the right place. Address is : 6 Avenue du coq, 75009. Paris– Metro Trinite or Saint Lazare.

• Anne also takes clients to The Paris Flea Markets as well as Provence and all over France.
• For more information email her at : anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Eygalieres in Les Alpilles

Tags

Chapel St-Sixte, Coteaux d'Aix en Provence-les -Baux, Le Bistro d'Eygalieres chez bru, Le Mas dou Pastre, Les Alpilles, Mas de La Brune

The lower slopes of Les Alpilles are covered with vineyards producing Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence-les-Baux, a wine with a very good reputation. In the heart of the Alpilles, the tiny village east of Eygalieres is really too pretty for its own good, now filled with overpriced interior, design shops and restaurants. However its delightful 12th- century chapel St-Sixte, which dominates a luminous hillside speckled with olive and almond trees lifts the spirits. Pagan rites were performed on the hill.Pagan rites involving spring water from les Alpilles were performed on the hills. One still remains: on the day of a couple’s engagement the future husband drinks spring water from his fiance’s hands. If they don’t marry within a year he dies.

Eygalieres is host to the elite, before it was St Tropez, now they have all moved here. This sleepy, tiny village has always been home to artists, but now it has become the Hamptons of Provence.

Le Mas de La Brune

I really liked this place and was delighted by its owner , Marie de LaRouziere  whose property spreads over 5 hectares of newly landscaped gardens surrounded by Lavender, chestnut trees, and roses. The 16th-century Mas ( farmhouse), was built by the mayor of Eygalieres. The decor in the rooms is not the best, but if you make the best of it you can have a wonderful time during your stay. The mas only serves breakfast.( About 2 kilometers north of Eygalieres toward Route St-Remy). Phone number is 4-90-95-90-77

Le Mas dou Pastre

This very simple, 18th-century stone farmhouse B&B has 12 rooms, all decorated in the Provencal style- sunny ochers and apricots, cornflowers blue. When I went there quite a few years ago, no English was spoken there. Albine Roumanille, her husband Maurice and sister Joelle, were extremely gracious. The breakfast was wonderful, coffee, freshly squeeze orange juice, homemade jams and breads , all was wonderful!. The rooms were affordable price wise and I would recommend it to anyone  who does not want to break their bank account. Quartier Saint Sixte ; 4-90-95-92-61

 

Swimming pool at Le Mas dou Pastre

Le Mas de La Brune

Le Bistrot d’Eygalieres Chez Bru

Exquisite Food at Le Bistrot d’Eygalieres

Le Bistrot d’Eygalieres.

Vegetables in Provence

Provencal Food

.

Le Bistrot d’Eygalieres Chez Bru

Belgian born owner chef Wout Bru‘s dishes, are all densely flavored poached prawns with a compote of tomatoes; seared foie gras in a Balsamic reduction or a tart of sweet, delicate sardines; roast pigeon with shallot confit and Tarragon essence; also a rich and flaky caramelized apple tart was out of this world. The owner has expanded so the place looks very different and the colors are as bland as the restaurant decor. Rue de La Republique ; 4-90-90-60-34

Visit us online at http://www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com Fall Provence Tours/ thanksgiving 2015

Anne Suire

Hiking, the best way to discover the Vaucluse and the Luberon/ Part 2

Tags

Apt, auberge du Luberon, candied fruits, Christian, hiking, Roman, Saignon, Truffles

Hike from Apt to Saignon

Apt‘s history goes back to Roman times when it was a prosperous ancient city. Remnants of its days as a Christian bishopric are also visible  in its gorgeous 11th-century Saint-Anne Cathedral. Today  the town is loved for its candied fruits, jams, lavender essence and truffles and a very colorful market that teems with Provencal produce on Saturday mornings. When you arrive in Apt park your car in the cours Lauze-de-Perret car park in the east of town,and then you are ready to set out on your hike. On foot your will have to take D48 and walk along until you see the Auriane track on the left, you will then head left and cross the bridge over the Rimayon river. As the road sweeps left you will have to keep walking straight along the path that climbs the hill, then bear left and and follow a tarmac path for ( 164ft) until you eventually get to the Ginestiere crossroads. Once you get there stay to your right and follow the D174 to get to the village entrance, which leads to the pretty place de la Fontaine.

Saignon is not very well known by tourists. If you go there visit the Prieure and Farm built in the middle ages on a Gallo- Roman site and continued to expand until the 19th-century. The church contains Medieval frescoes , and the excavations of a first-century villa are seen through a grill in the floor. Exhibitions are staged in the farm while the gardens are devoted to historic and scented plants. To get to Saignon, make a turn left on Rue du Bourget and walk about ( 330 ft) until you reach a cobbled path, on your left that leads to kind of a square in the parking lot. At the bottom of the car park, you will find a path winding around the village’s ramparts. After the last house take a deep breath and climb the steps to the main castle ruins and marvel at the vistas from the lookout point. Then go back down the ramparts before going left and joining the D174. From place de la Fontaine backtrack to the Ginistere crossroads, and turn right. After the bend, keeping Tourel (a settlement) on your left, take the short cut at the next bend and continue straight for (650 ft). At the next bend turn left along a dirt track and head straight through an oak forest and then a residential area. Continue straight , and then cross the old N100, using the steps to join the cycle path. You will have to keep going over the Cavalon River and then head up a ramp on the right to follow the D22 back to Apt. Finish your hike with a hearty French meal at Auberge du Luberon http://francemarket.com/auberge-luberon, located in a century- old  building in the city’s historic center.

Luberon, Provence.

A Walk in Montmartre.

Monmartre.

The walk begins at the base of the sand-stone butte ( hill), where old theaters and dance halls , once frequented and depicted by painters from Renoir to Picasso , have now been take by rock clubs. It continues steeply uphill to the original village , along streets that still retain the atmosphere caught by artists like Van Gogh, before winding downhill to end Place Blanche.

Tips for walkers.

Your starting point will be Place Pigalle. the walk goes up some very steep streets to the top; If you do not feel like the climb, consider taking the Montmartrobus, which covers most of the walk and starts at Place Pigalle.

Length:2.3kms ( 1.4 miles).

Getting There. The nearest metro station is Place Pigalle. Buses that take you there are Nos. 30, 54 and 67.

Taking a break. There are many cafes and shops along Rue Lepic and Rue des Abesses. Rayon de la Sante, to the right of the theater in Place Charles Dullin, is one of the city’s best vegetarian restaurants. For shade and rest, Place Jean-Baptiste Clement and square S.Buisson at Avenue Junot are charming Public squares.

A walk in Auteuil.

Part of the fascination of the walk around this bastion of bourgeois life in westernmost Paris lies in the contrasting nature of the area’s streets. This walk will begin with the old village provincialism of Rue d’Auteuil, then leads to the masterpieces of very luxurious modern architecture along Rue la Fontaine and Rue du Docteur Blanche. The walk will end at the Jasmin metro station.

Tips for walkers.

You will start at Place d’Auteuil.

The length is 3 kms ( 2 miles).

Getting there. The nearest Metro Station to the starting point is Eglise D’Auteuil, and buses that will take you to the park are buses # 22, 52 and 62.

Stopping-off points.

Along Rue d’Auteuil is the inexpensive trendy Brasserie, L’Auberge du Mouton Blanc, with 1930’s decor. No. 17 Rue La Fontaine is a tiny 1900 Art Nouveau cafe with old tiled floors and the original zinc covered bar. Place Jean Lorrain is a very nice shaded square where walkers can rest, and on Rue La Fontaine, there is a small park in front of a Neo- Gothic chapel at NO. 40. Farther on at Place Rodin, there is a very nice public garden.

Brasserie Auteuil.

Anne Suire

http://www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com

A walk around L’Isle Saint Louis.

Tags

Isle Saint Louis, Paris, restaurants, Walks

A walk around this charming, picturesque tree-lined quays from Pont Louis-Philippe to Quai d’Anjou, taking in the 17th-century hotels that infuse the area with a great sense of period. It then penetrates into the heart of the Island along the main street, but Saint-Louis en l’isle, enlivened by chic restaurants, cafes, art galleries and boutiques, before returning to the north side of the island and back to Pont Marie.

• 

• 

Brasserie Saint -Louis en l’Isle.

Metro Pont Marie to rue Jean du Bellay.

From the Pont Marie metro station, walk down quai des Celestins and quai de l’hotel de Ville. Lined with traditional bookstalls, from where there is a very good view of Isle Saint Louis. turn left at Pont Louis Philippe and having crossed it , take the steps down to the lower quay immediately to the right. Walk around the tree-shaded west-point of the Island then up the other side to the Pont Saint Louis. Opposite the bridge , on the corner of Rue Jean du Bellay, is the Flore en L’Isle, the smartest cafe on the island.

Tips for walkers.

Starting Point: Pont Marie Metro.

Length: 1.6 miles ( 2.6 km)

Getting there. The walk starts from Pont Marie Metro. However, bus Route 67 takes you to rue du Pont Louis-Phillipe and also crosses the Island along Rue des Deux Ponts and Boulevard Pont de Sully ; Routes 86 and 87 also cross the island along Boulevard Pont de Sully.

Stopping off points.

There are cafes , such as Flore en L’Isle and the Berthillon shop for Ice cream. The restaurants on Rue Saint-Louis en l’Isle include L’Auberge de La Reine Blanche ( NO. 30) and also Au Gourmet de L’Isle ( NO.42), as well as a Patisserie and Cheese shop. Two good resting spots are the tree shaded quays and square Barye to the Eastern end of the Island.

Le Flore en L’Isle.

Restaurant Flore en l’Isle.

Anne Suire

http://www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Travel Planning services.

A walk along the canal Saint Martin.

The walk along the quays on the other side of the Canal Saint Martin is a different experience of Paris than one finds in the most elegant districts of the city. Here is the older surviving landmarks of the neighborhood – The factories, warehouses, dwellings, taverns and cafes- hint at life in the 19th-century industrial working-class world. here are the tree-lined quays, the charms of the old iron footbridges, the inevitable fishermen, the river barges and the still waters of the broad canal basins. A stroll along the canal, which connects the bassin de la Villette with the Seine will evoke images of the Pernod- drinking working class Paris of Jean Gabin and Edith Piaf.

Tips for walkers.

The Starting point is Place de Stalingrad to Avenue Jean Jaures. Length is 2 miles ( 3.5 kms). The nearest metro is Stalingrad , the bus No 54 stops there and No 26 at metro Jaures.

Hopital St-Louis. The chapel is open ( 2-5pm) Friday & Sunday, the courtyard is open daily.

Stopping off points.

Etnic food shops and restaurants abound in Rue du Faubourg du Temple and nearby streets. Quai de Valmy has also plenty modish restaurants and bars ( Antoine et Lili, la 25e image, l’atmosphere ) and is lined with benches to rest on and there is also a shady public garden on Boulevard Jules Ferry.

Anne Suire

http://www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Tips for walkers – Parc Monceau

The starting point is Boulevard de Courcelles . The length is 2 miles,(3 km).
Getting there the nearest metro is Monceau, reached by bus # 30; # 84 goes to metro Courcelles and # 94 stops between Monceau & Villiers metros.

Stopping-off points: Near the Renaissance bridge in the parc Monceau has a kiosk serving coffee and sandwiches. There are two cafes at Place de Rio de Janeiro and several brasseries around Place Saint Augustin. The square Marcel Pagnol is a very enjoyable place to relax and take in the beauty of the parc at the end of the walk.
Anne Suire

Five great walks in Paris.

Paris is a city for walking . It is more compact and easier to get around than many other great capitals. Most of its magnificent sites are within walking distance of one another, and they are close to the central part of the city, the Ile de la cite. Paris also offers a wealth of lesser known but equally remarkable sections whose special history, architecture and local customs reveal to the visitor other facets of the city.

The walks introduce the visitor to the subtle details and contrasts that contribute to the special character of each district. These include cafes , street markets, quirky churches, canals , gardens, old village streets and bridges, all truly rich in literary, artistic and historical associations. Everywhere you are in Paris pas and present blend, in the changing and vibrant life of the modern city.

The walks contrast the smart areas of Auteuil , Monceau and l’ile Saint Louis with old working -class areas of Montmartre and Saint – Martin Auteuil is renowned for its Luxury modern residential architecture, Monceau for its somptuous second empire mansions and L’Ile Saint Louis for its ancien regime town houses, tree-lined river quays, narrow streets and film- star and literary residents. Village streets that were once home to famous artists and bohemians still enrich Montmartre, and the old fashion charm of the iron foot bridges survives along the old industrial canal St-Martin.

All the walk areas are readily accessible by public transportation and the nearest metro stations and bus routes are listed in the tips in the tips for walkers boxes. There are also suggestions on resting points such as cfes, restaurants, gardens and squares, along each routes.

The Marais Penthouse.

Tags

activities, Bateau mouche., Christmas New years, Family, Group friends, Le Marais, location, Mueums, Museums, Penthouse, shopping, travel, visit Paris

About
This Penthouse.

 

Breathtaking views from your own expansive, private rooftop, perched high above one of the best neighborhoods in central Paris, make the magnificent Marais Penthouse an ideal choice for families, friends, or business travelers. The grand split-level layout boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the unique space is characterized with thoughtful design throughout.

An elevator to the fifth floor (sixth floor US) brings guests to the first of two interior levels, welcomed by a dramatic, rotund foyer, with skylights and accent lighting that filter through the spiral stairs. This first floor includes the main salon, kitchen, and dining room. Art deco furnishings and original artwork enhance the exceptional space of the salon with two separate sitting areas. On one side, a bright yellow sofa and stylish sitting chairs are framed by the fireplace and floor-to-ceiling French windows that flood the room with natural light and open up onto the step-out balcony. On the other side of the salon, a smaller, comfortable couch is ideally located near the bookshelves and writing desk – a lovely spot to catch up on writing postcards or settling in to read a good book at the end of a long-day discovering all of the best that Paris has to offer just outside. A TV is cleverly hidden behind a white curved cabinet wall.

The modern kitchen is bright and spacious, with blonde woods cabinets, high-end appliances, a wrap-around counter space, and professional cookware and utensils. A pass-through window to the adjacent, elegant dining room makes serving home-cooked meals a breeze. A beautiful curved-base, art deco table with comfortable seating for eight, atop the lovely inlay tiled floor, can be set up for feel more private by adjusting the ceiling-mounted screens.

Up the spiral staircase, the second level includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The air-conditioned Master Bedroom has a queen-size bed, large closet, and private bathroom with bathtub, walk-in shower with marble slab walls, and dual washbasins. A charming French window brings in natural light that highlights the blonde wood flooring and furnishings of this bedroom, as well as the white walls and extra large beige tiles in the ensuite bathroom.

The Second Bedroom, also air-conditioned, offers a comfortable king-size bed that can be converted into two twin-size beds. Natural light, artwork, deep purple coloring, and a large closet complete this room. The Third Bedroom has a single bed, with a tucked-away trundle bed for an additional guest. A wall of built-in cabinetry and desk make this small bedroom very accommodating. This bedroom does not have AC, but a fan is provided, you probably won’t need one during the winter month.

The second bathroom on this floor shares the art deco feel of the apartment and displays two blue glass countertops with washbasins, a deep bathtub below a bright angled window, tiled walls, and built-in shelves. Both levels of the apartment have a separate WC with washbasin.

Finally, up another spiral staircase, the best of the best regarding the Marais Penthouse is the private roof deck – is accessed through a magnificent, automated, octagonal portal. Plenty of lounge seating, reclining chairs, and a large dining table that comfortably seats eight, creates an idyllic setting for soaking up the sweeping vistas of Paris.

This penthouse is amazing and would be a great spot for your winter vacation with family  children and friends. The perfect place to celebrate Christmas or New year’s or both.

For more information contact anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Next : Activities regarding your stay in Paris.

Le Marais district in Paris.

Once an area of marshland as its name suggests ( Marais means swamp), the Marais  grew steadily in importance from the 14th century, by virtue of its proximity to the Louvre , the preferred residence of Charles V. Its heyday was in the 17th-century when it became the fashionable area for the monied classes, they built many grand and sumptuous mansions, hotels, that still dot Le Marais today. Many of these hotels have been restored and turned into museums. Once again fashionable with  the monied classes, designer boutiques, trendy restaurants and cafes now lined the streets.

In Le Marais district la Rue des grands bourgeois. This ancient street is lined with important museums, Pompidou center, Musee Picasso , this palatial home of a 17th century salt-tax collector is the setting for the largest collection of Picassos in the world, the results of a family bequest to the state.

The Hotel  Le Peletier de Saint- Fargeau adjoins the hotel Carnavalet to form the museum of Paris History.

Le Musee Carnavalet. the statue of Louis XIV in Roman dress by Coysevox is in the courtyard of the Hotel Carnavalet. Coysevox was a French sculptor ( 1640 – 1720), known for his decorative work at Le Chateau de Versailles.

La Maison de Victor Hugo. author of Les Miserables, Victor Hugo lived at number 6, Place des Vosges where his house is a museum of his life and work.

Place des Vosges. Once the site for Jousting and tournements, in the very heart of Le Marais, is a square of perfect symetry.

Hotel de Sully. this renaissance hotel was built for a notorious gambler, Mesme Gallet . ( 62 rue , Saint Antoine). A must visit, the gardens are beautiful!.

Hotel de Lamoignon. Behind the ornate doorway of this fine mansion is Paris’s historical library. 24 Rue Pavee, 75004. It is one of the oldest mansion houses in Le Marais.

La Rue des Rosiers. The smell of hot pastrami and horscht wafts from restaurants and shops in the heart of the Jewish area. “Street of the rosebushes” Rue des Rosiers begins at Rue Malher and proceeds northwest across Rue Pavee, Rue Ferdinand Duval, Rue des Ecouffes, and Rue des Hospitalieres  Saint Gervais before it ends at Rue du Vieux Temple.

Musee Cognacq – Jay. An amazing and exquisite collection of 18th-century paintings and furniture is shown in perfect period setting; 8 Rue Elzhevir, 75004.

Anne Suire

anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Travel Planner and Tour designer.

Paris, Versailles and the Palace.

Visitors passing through the rich interior of this colossal palace, or those strolling in these vast gardens why it was the glory of the sun king’s reign . Starting in 1668 with his father’s hunting lodge, Louis XIV built the largest palace in Europe, housing 20,000 people at a time. Architects Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed the buildings; Charles Le brun designed the interiors; And Andre le notre, the great landscaper, redesigned the gardens, which are formally styled into paths and groves, hedges and flower beds, water pools and fountains.

The Orangerie was built beneath the parterre du midi to house exotic plants in winter.

The South Parterre’s shrubbery and ornate flower beds overlook the Swiss pond.

The Chateau. Louis XIV made the Chateau into the center of political life in France.

The water Parterre . Vast pools are decorated with bronze statues.

The Dragon Fountain‘s center piece is a winged monster.

The Grand canal. was the setting for Louis XIV’s many boating parties.

Le Petit Trianon. built in 1762 for Louis XV, this small chateau became the favorite of Marie Antoinette.

Le Grand Trianon. Louis XIV built this small palace of stone and pink marble in 1687 to escape the rigors of court life and to enjoy the company of his mistress, Madame de Maintenon.

Fountain de Neptune. Groups of sculptures spray spectacular jets of water in Le Notre and Mansart‘s 17th century fountain.

Anne Suire

anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com