Hotel Le Notre Dame - Paris, France

Last week we were in Paris to write a feature (as well as celebrate a friend’s birthday and wedding!) and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to visit Hotel Le Notre Dame; a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel I had heard great things about.

All twenty-six rooms of this perfectly situated 400-year-old boutique hotel have been decorated by Christian Lacroix.

A riot of colour and rich velvets, exposed beams, crooked windows and sightly uneven floors make for a charming combination. The hotel nestles in the grand shadow of  Notre Dame de Paris and somewhat fittingly, Lacroix has gone for – in his own words – a ‘vaguely medieval style’.

We stayed in the ‘The Magi’ room. Here’s a close up of the magnificent fresco above the bed:

The carpet of medieval stone on the floor was witty and adorable:

As one can expect, the rooms of a house this age are compact, but every possible requirement has been catered  for. A sumptuous blue velvet curtain was drawn aside to reveal ample wardrobe space, the small bathroom (with plenty of beautiful orange blossom scented Neroli products) was modern and sleek and a flat screen TV, iPod docking station and free WI-FI ticked all the right boxes.

The crisp white linen sheets and faux fur throws were a welcome comfort at the end of a typical day spent pounding the streets of Paris. But sore feet and aching limbs were soon a mere memory upon waking to this heart-stopping view from my bedroom window:

Breakfast was a simple affair with coffee, croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice (I’m always surprised just how difficult it is to find the latter in Parisian hotels!).

The breakfast room was so pretty, we could have happily stayed there all morning people-watching on Quai Saint-Michel, but the nearby Shakespeare and Company bookshop beckoned …

Hotel Le Notre Dame is literally a minute’s walk away from the nearest Metro and RER station (the latter perfect for a smooth and effortless train ride to Charles De Gaulle airport). The hotel really is in the most perfect location for exploration of the Latin Quarter.

However, as a light sleeper, I must confess I found it difficult to adjust to the noise level of Parisian traffic, so would recommend ear plugs or requesting a room that faces inwards away from the street. Although personally, I would opt for the ear plugs and the unforgettable views of Notre Dame every time.

For further information please visit: www.mrsandmrssmith.com and www.hotelviewnotredame.com

All images by CELLOPHANELAND*.

CELLOPHANELAND* were guests of Mr and Mrs Smith and Hotel Le Notre Dame.