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Paris. Staying in the heart of the City of Light. Surrounded by the culture, the energy, the art, the history, yet experiencing everyday life as though you are part of the millions who call Paris home while also having all of the sites, shops and dreamed about destinations nearby to explore, visit and peruse with ease.
When I began planning my trip to Paris which would have me arriving in March, staying in the country for just over two weeks as I wandered out to Brittany for one of those weeks, I wanted to conclude my trip in Paris with a restorative, thus home-away-from home apartment whose location provided the ability to get about the city with ease. I wanted to be in the center – Île de Cite. Specifically, Place Dauphine. And I knew Paris Perfect Vacation Apartments would provide the luxurious comfort and sanctuary I would be craving at the end of my trip.
Knowing Paris Perfect had an entire apartment building in Place Dauphine, I crossed my fingers and hoped that one of their one-bedroom apartments would be available for the final five days of my trip. Thankfully, the Castillon was available, and I secured my stay.
Having stayed in Paris Perfect’s apartments in the past – in the 7th arrondissement (Saint Julien apt near Rue Cler), and then also in London in Kensington, I was confident deep sleep would be had, a full kitchen would be equipped and available, and that I would have everything I needed to make the most of my time most enjoyably. (Listen to my interview with founder of Paris Perfect, Madelyn Byrne, here, in episode #309 of the podcast)
In full disclosure, I have partnered with Paris Perfect in the past, and for this trip, I booked my five days with no promises of compensation because I knew this would be a dream-of-a-place to stay. They kindly comped me two of the five nights in exchange for this detailed post, but as you know, I only recommend something if I truly love it and know you will too. Paris Perfect’s La Place Dauphine is a must-stay if you are looking for the duality of traveler’s dreams and the calm of everyday Parisian life (that includes a quiet night of sleep).
Now, let’s take a look at the apartment along with the neighborhood and location.
Place Dauphine, Île de Cite, 1eme
Place Dauphine was first developed in the early 17th century by Henry IV. Considered the first development in Paris for commoners and merchants, the structure and layout of the buildings remains as it would have been seen in the 1600s (learn more about the history here).
Set directly in between the right and left banks on the Île de Cite, one of the two islands that are found in the middle of the Seine, you literally have both banks within a block of where you are staying. The location is ideal for navigating to wherever or whichever site (or side) you wish to see.
The entrance to Place Dauphine opens up to Pont Neuf, the cobbled street bridge that arches beautifully over the Seine. Sitting on the right bank flanking the bridge is the luxury department store Samaritaine and sitting on the left bank just two blocks down the Seine is the favorite English bookstore, Shakespeare & Company. As well, you are on the Île de Cite which also calls as its neighbor, Notre-Dame de Paris. And while the city of Paris bustles around this historical place, inside the Place Dauphine is a quiet respite of everyday Parisian life.
The entrance looking into Place Dauphine from Pont Neuf. Cars do enter into this one way circular loop, but as you can see “Pietons” (pedestrians) have the right-of-way. 🙂
You have a handful of cafés and restaurants, a couple of shops and Parisians living their life in the apartments you see across and around the square. The public square full of chestnut trees is a place where pétanque is played, dogs are walked, couple and friends and parents and their children sit on park benches to talk, laugh and relax. The terrasses of the cafés look out into the square, and at night it becomes completely hushed.
The ideal location to combine both the dream trip to explore Paris while also feeling like a local as much as possible.
The view of Place Dauphine from my apartment window on the 3rd floor (American 4th floor).
Have a look at what Place Dauphine looks like in bloom and throughout the summer and fall months.
Peace of Mind Arrival
Communication throughout the entire reservation process is professional, clear and consistent. Long before I stepped onto the plane to come to France, they sent me the necessary details I would want to print out and have with me just in case I wasn’t able to access the internet. Full of details of the address and directions to Place Dauphine and their apartments within, time of arrival for entry to the apartment and everything else I could have wanted, it was included.
Within their online portal, you are able to book well in advance your transportation to and from the airport or train station. Only needing to book my taxi to the airport for departure, I secured a reservation with their recommended taxi company – Victor’s Cabs, and gave my pick-up time, flight details, etc. They quoted me the price to expect without tip. I will share now, it was seamless. My driver arrived before my scheduled pick-up time (which was 6:30 am), was wonderfully congenial, kind and helpful, and the car spacious, comfortable and clean. The price was adhered to, and I arrived at the airport without a hiccup. This peace of mind provided by Paris Perfect takes away the worry and ensures your trip begins and ends well.
A couple of days before my arrival, the staff of Paris Perfect will email you with the name of the person who will greet you at the apartment. You then have direct contact with your greeter. If you are going to arrive earlier than the arrival time of 3:30p, you have access to a storage closet to place your luggage, so you can wander about the city or neighborhood without worrying about watching your belongings.
Looking up at the exterior of the apartment building! My apartment was the third row of windows before the white additional floor and windows.
Arriving at La Place Dauphine
I arrived from Brittany at Gare Montparnasse, and took a taxi to Place Dauphine. Arriving about an hour earlier than my check-in time, they gave me the code to the Entrance Foyer (not my apartment, as that would be given to me by my greeter), and then I placed my luggage in the storage closet within the foyer which you see below.
I was so exhausted from the train trip, that I stayed in the foyer for the 30-minute wait, and before I knew it Nicole, my greeter, had arrived and I was settling into my apartment. However, it was a beautiful day, and walking about Paris, knowing my luggage was safe-and-sound was available to me was an extra detail that I appreciated.
Also, and this is a detail I love about these apartments in Place Dauphine with Paris Perfect, every single morning, a bundle of fresh baguettes are delivered to this foyer and placed in a basket right inside the front door (except on Sunday). And in fact, I took one of these baguettes after checking in, even though it was the afternoon, and enjoyed a piece or two as an afternoon snack. 🙂
The Foyer, street level
(notice the basket for baguettes by the door! :))
The luggage storage closet is seen on the right-hand side behind the chairs. There is a keypad for security.
The elevator
The stairs
Standing on the third floor landing, looking down.
My Apartment’s entrance foyer
Framed vintage Hermes scarves to welcome you into your home-away-from-home.
Now, let’s step inside this beautiful Parisian apartment, shall we? 🙂
The Apartment: Castillon
Let me just start by saying, part of the reason you feel as if you are living in Paris, as though you are an actual inhabitant of the city is because you kind of are, albeit temporarily. The entire apartment building, all of the floors, are owned by Paris Perfect. And they share the detailed remodeling journey of this historic building in a book that is found both in the foyer and in each apartment. The work and careful attention to modernizing while also honoring the artisanship of the building is wonderful.
Madelyn has thought of everything when it comes to what travelers need: a larger-than-typical elevator (by Paris standards), individual foyers to each apartment, vintage art and décor, lighting aplenty and dimmable, air conditioning for the hot summer months, a full washer and dryer in each apartment, a welcome basket, additional blankets and more than enough kitchenware, and that is just at first glance when you arrive. And a comfortable night sleep . . . as I have shared in my two previous stays with both Paris and London Perfect, sleep is sweet. As you stay in the apartment, you start to notice the details that were painstakingly thought about, and I truly felt right at home.
Let’s take a tour of the apartment I stayed in, Castillon. This one-bedroom, one and a half bath apartment on the third floor (fourth to Americans), and the one, I was told by my greeter had the highest ceilings. I particularly loved the vantage point of this third floor, and indeed the ceilings are wonderfully high, allowing you to see the exposed beams and Mother beam, the latter of which has been there for centuries!
Having a washer and dryer, especially towards the end of my trip, was a lovely detail to have, and I took advantage of it immediately. 🙂
The chandeliers in both the living and bedroom are phenomenal. And while my photo graphs don’t capture the size well, the bedroom chandelier is far larger than the living room, about three feet wide. I took inspiration home with me for my own primary suite. 🙂
The morning light seen through the bedroom window. I never tired of this, and it encouraged me to stay in bed a little bit longer. I soaked up every minute each morning. Such stunning light bouncing off the limestone of the buildings across the square.
~Learn more about Castillon and book it here.
Nearby & the Neighborhood (i.e. walkable)
Following arriving and settling in, I didn’t waste any time and went both to the right bank and the left for some shopping.
First, to La Samaritaine (on the right), and then to Mariage Frères on the left. Later that evening, I walked past Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral and then across the river to an intimate classical music concert in a small church behind Shakespeare & Co. While on my return back to my apartment, I captured the photo of the Pont Neuf stretching over the left side of Seine that you see below. Place Dauphine is on your right.
There is also a metro line right on the Pont Neuf bridge (near the right bank), so you can quickly access any metro or RER line you need. And when I needed a taxi, which I took to take me to the south edge of Paris to the 14th on Sunday for the Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves and Le Grand Garnier as well as Le Cordon Bleu, I met the taxi right on the Pont Neuf center in front of the entrance to Place Dauphine. So simple, and they could quickly go right or left whichever way I was headed. The ease of going anywhere I wanted without too much time or energy expended gave me more opportunity to see and do more on my list. 🙂
Along with being close to Notre Dame on the Île de Cite, you also have the Marché des Fleurs which was portrayed in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, and is a bundle of nursery shops, plants, flowers, and garden items owned by individual shop keepers. It is just a caddy-corner block away from the cathedral. And then of course, you have the second island in the middle of Paris, Île St. Louis right next door. It is a hidden treasure that I look forward to exploring on my next trip to Paris.
And I must not forget to talk about where I picked up my near daily croissant! My personal favorite place to pick up a croissant, is just about a 15 minute walk. Simply step onto the left bank and walk a handful of blocks to La Maison de l’Isabelle, which has won awards for the best croissants and best baguettes in the past handful of years. There is also a petit marché every Tuesday directly in front of the boulangerie that has all the fresh provisions for a week’s work of meals you could need along with scarves, plants/flowers and clothing to buy.
Looking right, while standing in the middle of the Pont Neuf, looking at the Samaritaine department store.
Next to Samaritaine, this is where Louis Vuitton is located, its flagship store. The white magnolia trees were one of the few things in bloom in the city during this second/third week in March in Paris, and they were magnificent.
Pont Neuf, all aglow, connecting to the left bank with Place Dauphine on the right.
The left bank exterior of Place Dauphine, standing on Pont Neuf, Seine bottom of photo.
Stroll on over to the 5th arrondissement. and pick up your morning baguette and/or croissant at La Maison de l’Isabelle. It is about a 15 minute walk and well worth it.
The weekly Marché is on Tuesday, and is located directly in front of Isabelle’s on the street corner.
Île de Cite, with Place Dauphine front and center and the Pont Neuf stretching on either side over the Seine at dusk.
~During TSLL’s 10th Annual French Week, always the second full week in August, I will have detailed, individual posts and video tours of many of the places I visited while in Paris, such as Notre-Dame de Paris, Palais Garnier, my walks around the city and more. Learn more about TSLL’s annual French Week here.
Well, Paris awaits and if you want a dream of a place to stay, I highly recommend Paris Perfect’s La Place Dauphine located inside the Place Dauphine on the Île de Cite. I want to thank Lisa, Madelyn, and Nicole for this most memorable experience.
- Explore all of the apartments available at Paris Perfect’s La Place Dauphine
- Visit Vacation Perfect, all of the countries and cities that include Paris Perfect rentals.
- Paris Perfect vacation rentals
- The apartment I stayed at: Castillon
SIMILAR POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY
episode #309: Let’s Travel to Paris! My Discussion with Paris Perfect Vacation Rentals’ Founder Madelyn Byrne
~Explore all of TSLL’s French-inspired content here and here. And check out TSLL’s free Travel Guide for all of the places Shannon has traveled in France (I will be updating it with my recent March trip recommendations by the end of this month.)
