My friend Lynn lives in a charming apartment on the Ile St. Louis on rue de Bretonvlliers.
Lynn told me the building was connected to the former Hotel Bretonvilliers, one of the grandest and most beautiful hotel particulier's in Paris. It was built in 1637 by architect by Jean Androuet Du Cerceau for the secretary to the King’s counsel, Claude Le Ragois de Bretonvilliers. When Baron Haussmann was brought in to modernize paris in the mid-1800s, his vision unfortunately included tearing down the Hotel Bretonvilliers to make way for Boulevard Henry IV.
She said the magnificent stairway was a must see and she was right on the money. The winding,uneven steps, the thick, dark wood banisters,the soft pink limestone walls, and the sweeping curve of the stairway were of exceptional beauty. I couldn't resist taking photos of the courtyard with the ivy just starting to sprout and crawling up the stone walls, planting its pretty green leaves.
Thank you Lynn for sharing with me another newly discovered Paris treasure.
6 rue de Bretonvilliers, 4th arr.
Ile St. Louis
Metro: Sully Morland or Pont Marie
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Great shots Richard...that last one - with the wrought iron - reminds me of a Picasso face!
M
Posted by: MadAboutParis | April 23, 2009 at 04:37 PM
As always, Richard, your photos are beautiful and capture the essence of not only the stairway (gorgeous) but also the courtyard ivy. Thanks for your insights on Paris! Best, Dawn Drake
Posted by: Dawn Drake | April 23, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Richard....a nice combination of hotel particulier and chateau architect....by King, I am assuming Louis XII and it is very common to
Use partial brick and stone as there was a Flemish influence and of course, the countryside influenced the early buildings....also the diamond floor comes out of the Chateaus of Loire valley.........The Renaissance lives on!!!
Posted by: Maureen | April 23, 2009 at 07:09 PM
The last I Perfer Paris was amazing. The pictures of the stairwell were fabulous! Hope things are well in your corner of the world. I miss Paris
Posted by: Randy | April 23, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Perfect! Perfect! Luscious.
Posted by: Lynn | April 23, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Really nice photos, Richard. Wonderfully composed!
Posted by: Meredith | April 23, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I know that I have shared something like this with you before – your daily emails make my day. I just adore seeing all the wonderful architecture, flowers and other gorgeous things you bring to us.
Your email is like a special gift I get to open each morning.
Posted by: Blair | April 23, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Makes me want to be in Paris.
Posted by: pamela | April 24, 2009 at 05:34 AM
What a delight to open today's email from I Prefer Paris and see...lovely photos of our beloved no. 6 rue de Bretonvilliers. Made our day.
my husband and I--are the owners of the apartment Lynn lives in. Love being on your mailing list.
Posted by: Francelle | April 24, 2009 at 06:10 PM
So how do we get an invite to Lynn's??? What a gorgeous place. You photographed those stairs and stairwells beautifully!
V
Posted by: Virginia | May 05, 2009 at 11:33 PM
I happily rented a studio on the rez de chausée of 6 rue de Bretonvillers a number of times, but the agency that I rented it through, Paris Sleeps, went out of business. Do you by any chance know what rental agency might be listing it now? I loved the apartment. And I agree. Great pictures. Another Virginia
Posted by: Virginia Scott | September 07, 2009 at 04:46 PM