For me, August is an ideal time for visiting Paris. I guess that’s because there are not many tourists around, so you have a feeling that the whole city belongs to you. This time I stayed for about a month and even though it seemed enough time to visit all the places that I have planned, it actually wasn’t.
And, like a curse or a blessing, I’m obviously destined to discover new (at least to me) parts of the city, always in awe and amazement. So, my time in Paris is usually divided between endless walks through more or less known neighborhoods and enjoying lovely French brasseries and their amazing cuisine. For the second time I stayed at MonHotel Paris that is ideally located near Arc de Triomphe. There are places that I consider home away from home and MonHotel Paris is one of them. First, it has pretty cool vibe and modern design with a influence of POP art and rock’n’roll culture. Second, they have a gym and a new spa that is absolutely perfect for relaxation. Hotel is situated in a quiet and elegant Rue d’Argentine, in the prestigious 16th arrondissement, which is to Paris what the Upper East Side is to New York – a very affluent, chic and well-known section of town. So, waking up here and later having breakfast in their Michelin-starred restaurant Le Daniel’s gives you relaxed and peaceful feeling, especially because of its darker interior. You begin a new day with ease, ready for a daily dose of necessary city-exploring.
One of the places that I managed to visit this time was the magnificent Fondation Louis Vuitton, that happens to be in a walking distance (like basically everything else) from MonHotel Paris. Dedicated to contemporary art exhibitions, this monumental place is created at the initiative of Bernard Arnault and officially opened in 2014. With a design by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, one of the most influential figures in modern architecture, Fondation‘s building in some way emulates the setting of the Jardin d’Acclimatation, evoking the tradition of 19th-century glass gardens. The Fondation Louis Vuitton continues to support French and international contemporary artistic creation, while making it accessible to as many people as possible.
And my endless walks included: Avenue Foch, Avenue Victor Hugo, Rue Boissière, Avenue Kléber, Avenue du Président Wilson, Boulevard Flandrin, Rue Saint-Didier, Rue de Longchamp, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Jardins du Trocadéro… in no special order. I just just decided to get lost in the City of lights, what I suggest you to do.
Websites: www.monhotel.fr
www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr