Hôtel du Lys

Details

It is not often that one comes across such a nice hospitable hotel in a central location, offering a home away from home at an affordable price and with a quality of service second to none. Located at the corner of the Boulevard St Germain and Boulevard St-Michel in the 6th district of Paris, the Hotel du Lys is situated in a quiet little residential side street, allowing guests to enjoy all the perks the neighborhood is famous for, without being disturbed by its effervescence.

A hotel since 1908, this building is actually from the 17th century and used to be the private residence of many highly-ranked citizens like the Marquis de la Motte and the Count of l’Arvoisin. The current owners have endeavored to keep this homely feel and many original features are still present like the ageless oak beams, exposed stone walls and ancient tiled floors complimented by the antique furniture. The iconic “fleur-de-lys” is the emblem of the former French royalty and its traditional colors of gold and blue can be found all over the hotel.

The ever accommodating staff of this quality establishment constantly ensures that each guest staying overnight or over a couple of weeks gets a truly personalised experience and you should not hesitate asking for tips on where to eat or what show to go and see. The hotel only has 22 rooms which allows for an informal atmosphere and numerous guests have formed long-lasting friendships over a cup of coffee and croissant. The spacious bedrooms have their own character and colour scheme and all have a television and safe deposit box. The bathrooms have recently been entirely renovated and are bright and impeccably clean. A room for up to three people is also available.

All popular sites are conveniently located around the Hotel du Lys. The Luxembourg Garden a few streets south is ideal for a romantic stroll and is one of the icons of the Parisian landscape as is the Cathedral Notre-Dame on the Ile de la Cité 5 minutes away towards the North. Both islands were the starting point for the former “Lutèce” when France was still called “Gaule” and the main districts of the current city were only little villages. There is therefore a wealth of history to discover, but, if you feel like taking a break then make sure to have a refreshing drink at the Brasserie de l’Ile St Louis with a prime view of the River Seine and the famous Pantheon.

For a spot of shopping hop onto the many metros available in the neighborhood which will take you straight to the Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysées, as well as the Place de la Concorde with the Karnak obelisk and the beautiful Palace of Chaillot with the Eiffel Tower nearby. The St Michel train station at the end of the street allows you conveniently to be at the Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in less than 40 minutes.

The one of a kind Hotel du Lys will not follow the whims of fashion and is strongly recommend for those who are keen on history and wish to stay in a traditional townhouse full of character and charm in the centre of Paris.