Arts et Metiers

On the edge of the Marais and just next to rue Montorgueil, this spacious apartment is tucked back into the courtyard of a quiet building on a tranquil street. The flat is a virtually silent space, free from the street noise of surrounding Paris. This 68 square metre flat is organized to have 2 separate sleeping areas, making it a 2 bedroom. Upon entering, there is a lounge, containing two single beds and a wall of cupboards for storing clothing and luggage. We can add a third single bed (fold out) to this room. 

This first room is separated from the double living area by a large sliding door - when open, the spaces are joined to make a large, sunny, loft-like space. When closed, the entry becomes a quiet separate room for reading or sleeping. The double living and dining area runs the length of the apartment and is illuminated by a wall of windows on one side. The first lounge area is furnished with a sofabed that has a very thick mattress and an easy opening made for sleeping every night. There are also two Napoleon-style armchairs, and TV, DVD, and wireless high-speed internet. 

The dining area contains an expandable dining table surrounded by comfortable leather dining chairs and can seat 10 people. There is also a large leather sofa here so ideal to have some space to yourself if needed! Proceeding through the flat, the quirky nature of Marais buildings is revealed by a series of doorways and stairs. Many of the apartments in this area are recuperated from several different spaces in very old buildings with thick, crooked walls, myriad steps up and down and tilting floors being the norm. Back in the main level of the apartment, a step down from the dining area takes you to the newly renovated kitchen.

It is fully equipped with large refrigerator, 4 burner induction range and oven, dishwasher, electric kettle, coffee pot, and more amenities. The corridor, accessed by a step down from the dining area, leads first to a large bathroom with double sink vanity, toilet, walk in shower and combination washer-dryer. Continuing down the corridor, you reach the main bedroom with a queen size bed, a chest of drawers and two bedside tables with lamps for those lazy mornings in bed with the papers and a cup of coffee. The Montorgueil district is centred around rue Montorgueil, a primarily pedestrian street which is a "rue des commercants" - or shopping street par excellence. 

This street is packed with all of the little shops any Parisian (or visitor) could want - greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, bakeries (including Stohrer, a bakery and patisserie dating from 1730) flower shops, chocolate shops, wine stores, and even a few gelato shops. The street serves as an artery running from Les Halles park (originally home to the largest central market in Paris but converted in the 1960's to a park and underground shopping mall, complete with cinemas) north to rue Reaumur. Restaurants and cafes abound, as well as the scores of boutiques in the surrounding streets.

The area has in recent years become a haven for young designers and this is evident in the small boutiques scattered throughout, but the larger clothing stores still remain as well, centred around rue Etienne Marcel, which runs toward Place des Victoires, a 5 minute walk away. An often missed treasure just across the street from the apartment is the Passage des Grands Cerfs, one of Paris's many enclosed passages - glass-roofed passageways lined with shops and boutiques. True to the neighbourhood, this passage contains several funky clothing stores, a restaurant, and a few galleries and furniture stores.