Compare Retreats checks into Maison Proust, an intimate and striking gem in the heart of the Marais.
Location
Maison Proust is located in the Marais, one of Paris’ trendiest and most artistic districts. Home to cultural and historic landmarks such as the Picasso Museum, the Carnavalet Museum, and Place des Vosges, the property is surrounded by magnificent maisons and 17th-century architectural jewels. This rich sense of place provides the ideal setting for exploring the French capital and its array of sights on foot or by bike.
Inspiration and Design
The hotel’s theme is the Belle Époque, a glittering period in French history from 1871 to 1914, when the arts, glamour, and beauty commingle. Designed by famed interior designer Jacques Garcia, the hotel’s design reflects the spirit of this era through its flair, sophistication, and elegance. From the eclectic and colourful choice of fabrics to period furniture, precious artworks, and bespoke decorative elements, guests are invited to step back in time, to a space where they can escape and slow down.
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Rooms and Suites
Spirited, dramatic, and moody, the hotel’s 23 rooms and suites cater to various types of guests. Inspired by iconic characters in the world of Marcel Proust, each one of the hotel’s rooms and suites is a spectacular decorative masterpiece where colours, artworks, and fabrics blend together to create a dreamy escape. Step into a different part of Proust’s world in different areas of the hotel; the first three floors pay homage to the personalities of Parisian life, the fourth floor is dedicated to the Impressionists, the fifth floor to writers, and finally the sixth floor to Proust’s apartments.
Spa La Mer
One of the most secret and magical places at the hotel, the spa takes inspiration from the oriental decor of Aunt Léonie’s house, in which Marcel Proust spent his childhood.
Featuring a 10-metre swimming pool, a hammam, and three treatment rooms, the Spa La Mer offers a luxurious and poetic escape for discerning guests. La Mer’s iconic and beloved products are used in the spa’s personalised facial and massage treatments.
Dining
The hotel’s various salons pay homage to the lively and artistic spaces of the Belle Époque, which are vividly captured through the writings of Marcel Proust.
The bar is the centrepiece of the first salon, where carefully crafted cocktails and drinks are served alongside small bites throughout the day. Aesthetically, decorative elements such as an ornate fireplace, warm woodwork, sumptuous draperies, and curated art pieces such as Edouard Manet’s Le Printemps, create a welcoming atmosphere.
Breakfast and all-day dining are served in the Winter Garden, the hotel’s second salon with a conservatory feel. Elegant and inviting, guests may simply indulge in a game of backgammon or chess, get lost in a book, or relax after a day exploring the city. Voluptuous Cordoba leather wall panelling, a dreamy gold-threaded ceiling canopy, and opulent tasselled lights create a theatrical yet cosy ambience.
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Perfect for bibliophiles and architecture lovers, the captivating library with its rotunda-shaped bookcase houses a hundred books that celebrate Marcel Proust’s literary world. Taking centre stage is a rare manuscript letter and a first edition that is displayed below a magnificent starry gilded ceiling that references the sunshine rotunda of the Garnier Opera House, popular amongst Parisian aristocracy during the Belle Époque.
Final Thoughts
As a lover of books, the arts, and design, my stay at Maison Proust was the perfect retreat during my stay in Paris. Located in a quiet yet accessible part of the Marais, the property offers both the privacy and convenience sought after.
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