Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain, Oh Paris!

My introduction began with this family-owned property last November when a new friend invited me for lunch hosted by her friend, the owner of Pavillon de la Reine. We moseyed on a rainy Saturday to this timeless address, a haven of peace in the heart of the capital, surrounded by shady gardens. A small luxury hotel in the 3rd arrondissement. Sipping bubbly and chatting for hours before we enjoyed a mini-site inspection.
 

Library linking Les Parisiens restaurant to the hotel

Pavillon de la Queen & Spa owes its name to Anne of Austria, Queen of France who, in the 17th century, lived in the wing that separated the residence from the current Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris. It was also when her engagement to Louis XIII, in 1612, that the square was inaugurated. It then took the name of “Royal Square”. In 1800, it was baptized “Place des Vosges”. This is the oldest square in Paris. Over the centuries, it has hosted many famous residents such as Colette or Victor Hugo. It has thus contributed to the aura of the Marais, a district for which it is partly famous.

Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain

When I began plotting my current visit to Paris, I remembered Pavillon de la Reine family was in the midst of opening a new property. After two years of work, the Chevalier family has given a new lease of life to the hotel “Le Saint”, and renamed its boutique hotel the Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain, in reference to the Pavillon de la Reine on the Place des Vosges, and the Pavillon des Lettres opposite the Elysée. It has entrusted the keys to the renovation to the master of interior architecture Didier Benderli.

Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain, one would never know the property has been stitched together from three smaller hotels, while preserving the identity of the three distinct buildings connecting their interiors and redesigning them in a style that pays tribute to their 19th-century heritage.  Such Parisian details: a chic bistro, like a literary salon. A neighborhood sense of local life, between the Seine and the Café de Flore.

With its winter garden in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and its impeccable service, the Pavilion Faubourg Saint-Germain hotel is a haven of peace away from the paparazzi. It embodies elegant Parisian chic and serene luxury. Perfect location right on the corner of Rue du Pré aux Clercs and Rue de L’Université, just a few steps from Saint-Germain-des-Prés church.

The indoor swimming pool, spa, bar, and restaurant are all reasons to never leave this dreamy haven where you can enjoy peace or gaiety depending on your mood.

The hotel is cozy and warm, the public spaces are very inviting – a library is a wonderful place for breakfast or working if you must! The bistro, Les Parisiens, and snug James Joyce bar were great fun, I was the first lunch customer, and my two meals were delicious! In keeping with the tribute paid to James Joyce, the bar at the Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain has the distinctive warmth of a private English club. Yet it is a very chic Parisian spot. The young waiter, of course, translated for me, and the chef was kind enough to eliminate the dreaded anchovies from my yummy chicken with a delicious lemon Béarnaise sauce. My Britany lobster dinner was equally as divine – waiter made sure there were no lobster eyes observing me!

The Left Bank neighborhood is a treasure trove of charming boutiques, bakeries, fine antique stores and a very charming vintage jewelry store as well as high end jewelry…I spent a couple of hours wandering the streets…we have clients staying in June and I think they will adore Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain. Highly Recommend!

Pavillon Saint-Germain-Des-Prés hotel Paris
Charm at every corner!

Paris – Exclusive Librairie Galignani

Have you ever wanted to design your private library with a well-known curator? If you are ensconced in the exquisite Pompadour Suite at Le Meurice, do crawl out of those exquisite expensive linens and mosey to Librairie Galignani, an astonishing bookstore over two centuries old, opened in 1520, it is merely yards away.  Or even better, let us schedule a private consultation with Executive Director, Danielle Cillien Sabatier, and let the experts assist you in curating a personal library on your beloved pursuits. Architecture, gardens, wine, fashion; there are always impossible to find books on every avocation. Is your best friend a Chanel aficionado, you will discover slews of books on Coco for a beloved birthday gift. Something for everyone at Librairie Galignani, the casual reader or assistance with a sophisticated library collection.

With three departments, English, French and Fine Arts, Librairie Galignani offers a range of rare diversity and guarantees quality service, excellence and know-how provided by expert and bilingual booksellers. The bookstore offer is supplemented by a website allowing you to reserve or buy online and to ship or have your purchases delivered. In addition, many events (signings, conferences, meetings, exhibitions, round tables, debates or private parties) are regularly organized in the bookshop, do check the schedule before your next visit to The City of Light.  

The English department offers all the English and American classics. The latest publications in literature, biographies and essays rub shoulders with political and financial news. In addition to a large selection of history books, there is a strong specialization in Anglo-Saxon university publications,

The Fine Arts department, rich in all the latest news and a large collection of French books, also favors works (exhibition catalogs, various monographs) from abroad, mainly from the United States, England and Italy, as well as a small number of rare and out of print books on fashion, jewelry and the decorative arts.

Librairie Galignani, Paris

Faced with the abundance of publications, the French-language books section offers a selection likely to satisfy the most diverse curiosities in literature, history, essays, current affairs and youth. You can also discover or rediscover the great names of literature in the La Pléiade collection.

History: The Galignanis were among the first to use the recently invented printing press in order to distribute their books to a larger audience. Beginning in 1520, Simone Galignani published in Venice a Latin grammar (the oldest “Galignani” known).

However, their greatest success was the  Geografia  by PTOLEMAUS published in 1597, an incredible bestseller in both the 16th and 17th centuries. Galignani eventually reissued multiple editions.

At the end of the 17th century, Giovanni Antonio Galignani, born near Brescia, left an economically declining Venice for London, and shortly after, Paris, where he opened in 1801, on rue Vivienne, not only a bookshop, but also a reading room specialized in the English language, while continuing his publishing business. In addition, there was the creation of Galignani’s Messenger, a daily newspaper and reference point for the English-speaking community on the Continent. Some of the greatest English authors of the time contributed to the newspaper, and their books were also published by Galignani (Byron, Wordsworth, Thackeray, Scott …). Galignani then settled in 1856 at rue de Rivoli, which remains the current address.

Upon his death in 1882, William Galignani left the company to his nephew, Charles Jeancourt-Galignani, whose direct descendants still own it today. The newspaper and the publishing house were discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century, but the bookshop continued to thrive. Not allowed to stock English editions during the German occupation, André Jeancourt-Galignani opened a section devoted to art books. Since the post-war period, the Fine Arts Department has been an undeniable success.

Concerning libraries, the refined staff members work with all the museums for their curator’s libraries, the major luxury hotels like Ritz, Crillon, Le Meurice, Plaza Athénée, George, Prince de Galles, Pavillon de la Reine and lately Cheval Blanc and Bulgari. They have created libraries for Cartier, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and other luxury brands. Librairie Galigani also collaborates with famous decorators and have selected book assortments for private clients either through their decorators or directly. 

Highly Recommend!

https://www.galignani.fr/notre-librairie-presentation/ssh-5463