New York Habitat Blog

Paris Apartment 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Montmartre (PA-684)

Wine and champagne may flow freely in Paris but the city isn’t exactly known as a winery destination. Yet the City of Lights is actually home to several active vineyards, especially along the slopes of Montmartre. Every October, the 18th arrondissement plays hosts the Fete de Vendanges, or the Grape Harvest Festival. The joyous event brings the age-old tradition of the wine harvest to the city, attracting 350,000 Bacchus lovers annually.

This year, the five-day celebration will be held from October 7–11, taking over the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre with exhibitions, free winery tours and tastings, a village market and a Grand Parade with fireworks. More than 120 artisanal stands will pop up around the Sacré-Coeur Basilica atop the Butte de Montmartre – the highest point in Paris – which means delectable food and local cuvées with an incredible view.

Several exhibits will open on September 22 in anticipation of the festival, including the Exposition of the Grand Parade of the Feast of the Harvest, a collection of black and white photographs of the charmingly odd parade by Anne Boudard. You an also catch exhibits on The History of the Cabarets of Montmartre and 50 Years of Song with Jacques Canetti, this year’s honoree. Check out the full calendar of events here. http://www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com/.

View of Montmartre

A trip to the Fete de Vendanges is a perfect way to experience French culture at its finest. You can sample wine and explore the artistic neighborhood that was once home to Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso. New York Habitat has tons of Montmartre apartments for you to choose from, including:

This light, airy 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Montmartre - Sacre Coeur (PA-684), located very close to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Enjoy French windows in both the bedroom and living room overlooking a lovely courtyard.

This affordable 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Montmartre - Sacre Coeur (PA-2106), located between the Butte de Montmartre on one side and the Parc des Buttes Chaumont on the other. Enjoy spectacular views of the basilica from your living room window.

Have you ever been to the Fete de Vendanges or one of the Parisian wineries? Share your comments with us!

Paris Vacation Rental 3 Bedroom Tour Eiffel (PA-3368)

Paris, and France for that matter, are often defined by the symbol of the Eiffel Tower. It represents the beauty of French architecture, the resistance of a city once occupied during the second World War, and a glimpse towards a future of French innovation. The Eiffel tower seems to invite foreign visitors to come and experience the city of Paris, to climb aboard its skeletal frame and to view the beauty of its bridges, buildings and parks from a bird’s eye view. Indeed the Tour is ubiquitous in this city of low-rise buildings and Haussmannian uniformity. From anywhere in the city the tower acts to orientate lost Parisians and beckon first-time visitors. The tower is celebrated everyday by the thousands of visitors that climb its stairs and ride its elevators, but this year, on the 120th anniversary of its completion, the city of Paris will pay homage to the man for whom the tower is named, Gustave Eiffel.

This summer, Paris’ Hôtel de Ville will retrace the career of the inventor and architect of France’s national emblem. The exhibition will make en effort to honour Eiffel’s work on the iconic tower, but also to examine the man himself and the other projects he dedicated his life to. In doing so visitors will be able to look at this remarkable man’s contributions to his engineering as a whole, aerodynamics, and academia. Of course, the exhibition will also have a stock of documents, photographs and other artefacts on hand exploring Eiffel’s role in creating his crowning achievement. The exhibit will run until August 29th and is free and open to the public. New York Habitat’s accommodations owe a debt of gratitude to Eiffel as many of them enjoy views of his sparkling masterpiece.

-This studio apartment in Trocadero, Auteul-Tour Eiffel (PA-3749) is in Monsieur Eiffel’s neighborhood and boasts exposed wood beams and a mezzanine sleeping level.

-This three-bedroom vacation rental in Champ de Mars –Tour Eiffel (PA-3368) has beautiful views of the tower and features a wonderful little balcony.

What other architectural symbols of France can you think of? Are there any other cities that are defined by one architectural masterpiece as much as Paris is by the Eiffel Tower? Please Comment Below.

If you love to cook, there’s really only one way to vacation in Paris. Skip the pint-size hotel room and rent an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen so you can enjoy the treasure trove of ingredients sold around the city.  Paris is dotted with open-air markets offering the freshest breads, meats and seafood, fruits and vegetables, and of course, cheeses. Fill your tote with artisanal finds in the morning and cook gourmet meals back at your own New York Habitat vacation rental at night.

Rue Mouffetard Market picture

Rue Mouffetard Market, or La Mouffe as it’s affectionately known to locals, is one of the city’s best-known markets. This narrow cobblestone street is among the oldest in Paris and feels like a tiny village unto itself. You’ll find boucheries (butchers), boulangeries (bakers), poissoneries (fish stores), fromageries (cheese shops) and magasins du vin (wine stores) –  a true gastronomic paradise. The merchant street is also lined with restaurants and cafes, perfect for people watching while soaking up the sites and smells of the bustling market.

Located on the Left Bank in the fifth arrondissement, La Mouffe runs from the Place de la Contrescarpe, just behind the Panthéon, down to St. Médard Square. It’s open daily (except for Monday’s) and is best to visit in the mornings, as some stalls close in the afternoon. New York Habitat has dozens of charming apartments right along Rue Mouffetard, including:

Rue Mouffetard Market photo

This Alcove Studio rental in St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame - Mouffetard (PA-3273), located in the heart of the Rue Mouffetard district. The apartment is on the ground floor of a 17th-century building and has a coded security system and concierge. Enjoy courtyard views from the kitchen while you cook!

This 1-Bedroom vacation rental in St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame – Mouffetard (PA-3216) is located near the Place de la Contrescarpe and all of the market activity. The apartment is on the first floor of a 19th -century building and features wireless internet and quaint street views.

Want to make a trip to La Mouffe part of your Parisian routine? Have you ever been to Rue Mouffetard Market or other outdoor markets in Paris? Please comment below.

In continuing with our theme of Middle Eastern and North African influence on modern French culture New York Habitat reveals an entirely different kind of guided Paris tour. Besides being the home to one of Paris’ most interesting museums, the Institute of the Arab World(Monde Arab link) is also the site of arabic-language courses, child activities, film showings and the start of the Paris-Arabe Historique: a walk through the streets of Paris’ 5th arrondissement. The guided walking tour takes visitors through the streets of the 5th arrondissement, taking special note of sites and monuments relating to the Arab influence on France. The quarter has many attractive apartments and New York Habitat can have you calling a vaction rental home in no time.

Paris, France: 5th arrondissement

The Paris-Arabe History guided tour takes place every Saturday afternoon from late Spring to early Fall. The tour starts out at the College de France and La Sorbonne, two sites not normally thought of as anything but Français. This part of the tour highlights the intellectual curiosity of the French towards the Middle East during the reign of Francois the 1st. The tour then moves on to one of the oldest churches in Paris, the church Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. Tour guides outline the relationship of France and Christian Arabs. The third stage of the walking tour focuses on the Arabic language. The 5th arrondissement is where the first printing presses and newspapers were introduced in Arabic and the dozens of Arabic bookstores and libraries in Paris are rooted in the quarter. The tour then arrives at the Mosque of Paris , one of the grandest Mosques in the West. The tour comes to an end back at the Institute of the Arab World and, if you still have the energy, guests can take in an exhibition or shop in the on-site store.

While on the tour visitors will be enviously strolling by some of Paris’ nicest apartments. Instead of admiring the flats from afar why not move into one? Trust us, your friends at the Hilton will be jealous.

(Lots of light and hardwood floors define the look of this one-bedroom rental accommodation in Quartier Latin, St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame (PA 1305). The building is on a quiet street and the apartment has a washing machine and dryer. Solo travelers and couples should take a look at this Studio vacation rental in St Michel, Grand Bibliotheque - Cite Universitaire (PA-2135). The apartment gets heaps of light and has some cool, Arab-inspired, design touches. To really impress your fellow travelers stay in this five-bedroom rental apartment in Luxembourg, St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame (PA-2995). The apartment is enormous, unique, kid-friendly and quite funky. The decor and architectural style is whimsical, industrial and functional all at the same time.

Walking is the best way to see the history, culture and architecture of Paris. Are there any walking tours you have done that rival the Paris-Arabe Historique? Comment Below.

Of all the quarters in Paris the one with the most English-literary history and tradition is Montparnasse. Five cafés, all situated on a corner of the Boulevard Montparnasse, retain the feel, charm and look of the Lost Generation of Paris. When Hemingway, Ezra Pound and F. Scott Fitzgerald first moved to Paris they took small flats on the rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, a few blocks from the mythic cafes. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were notorious drinkers and regulars in many Montparnasse cafés as were Gertrude Stein, James Joyce and Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises characters Jake and Robert Cohn. New York Habitat has Montparnasse accommodations that will make it easy to add your name to the list of famous café patrons.

Photo of the La Rotonde Pub: Montparnasse, Paris, France

We fittingly end our literary café crawl on the Boulevard Montparnasse, making stops at La Coupole, La Rotonde, Le Dome, Le Select and La Closerie des Lilas. Exiting at Metro Vavin our first cocktail break will be at La Rotonde, of which Hemingway said, “No matter what café in Montparnasse you ask a taxi driver to bring you to from the right bank of the river, they always take you to the Rotonde.” The café is a renovated old-world gem, serving excellent meals and reasonably priced glasses of wine and cocktails. Next stops are La Coupole, Le Select and Le Dome. All the cafés have similar menus and are filled with Parisians grabbing after-work drinks. The food is quite good but, of course, the biggest draw is a dining room filled with the ghosts of Josephine Baker, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Pappa Hemingway.

We’ve saved La Closerie des Lilas for last, it’s the perfect place to end our literary tour. The Lilas was Hemingway’s favorite Paris café, he worked here diligently during the 20s, perhaps penning parts of his great novels at one of the tables. And if you ever forget the company you’re in the copper plaques etched with the names of famous patrons grace the café walls.

Photo of a Paris Accommodation: Studio in Luxembourg, Montparnasse (PA-3663)

New York Habitat has plenty of apartments in Montparnasse, steps from the famous eateries. This studio accommodation in Luxembourg, Montparnasse - Porte de Versailles (PA-3663) is on the boulevard Montparnasse. This book-filled 3-bedroom furnished rental apartment in Montparnasse - Porte de Versailles (PA-1600) is just steps from are restaurants. Also, this 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Montparnasee - Porte de Versailles (PA-1706) lies directly in the shadow of the Montparnasse Tower.

A short walk from Montparnasse the Jardin du Luxembourg, a great place to take a walk, people watch and perhaps start a novel of your own.

Hemingway’s Paris memoir A Moveable Feast is an absolute must read before any bookworm’s trip to the French Capital.

Don’t forget to revist all of our Pub Literary Pub Crawl Posts before venturning off:

• The Right Bank’s Literary Pubs
• Literary Pubs in Saint Germain des Pres

Paris’ Right Bank cafés deserve their place in literary history. Nevertheless, the history behind Harry’s, Café de la Paix and the Ritz pales in comparison to the formidable literary pedigree of their Left Bank counterparts. The cafes of the Left Bank were immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s classis works The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast. In the books, and in reality for that matter, the cafes of Montparnasse and St. Germain des Pres were packed with intellectuals drinking, socializing and writing. We at New York Habitat are a nostalgic bunch and we can’t resist the charms of the Left Bank watering holes.

Saint Germanin des Pres, Paris, France photo

Part two of our literary pub crawl through Paris begins in St. Germain des Prés on the boulevard St. Germain. Three cafés; Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore and the Brasserie Lipp all boast a history of intellectual patrons and belle-epoque charm. The Flore was a second home to Jean Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir and was visited, at varying times, by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Truman Capote. Les Deux Magots affectionately calls itself a “literary café,” thanks in part to its frequent visits from the ubiquitous Papa Hemingway. The Brasserie Lipp beckons to passerbies in this heavily trafficked neighborhood with its mouth-watering neon beer sign. It is said that on the day of Paris’ liberation in 1944 Hemingway was the first in the Lipp’s door for a drink (a claim common among Parisian café lore). All of these eateries are conscience of their history and have raised prices accordingly, while not outrageous do expect to pay a bit extra for the ambiance.

St. Germain des Pres is one of New York Habitat’s favorite Paris neighborhoods and is immensely popular among renters. Available this spring is this 1-bedroom apartment rental in St Germain des Pres (PA-1348). The apartment doesn’t have a full kitchen but who needs one in this neighborhood? This lovely 3-bedroom apartment rental in St Germain des Pres (PA-2646) is spacious, bright and just around the corner from the three cafés mentioned above. New York Habitat also has this awesome alcove studio vacation rental accommodation in St Germain des Pres (PA-2473). The studio sports exposed wood beams, a wall of sun-drenched windows and a long, picturesque balcony.

If you missed part one of New York Habitat’s Paris Pub Crawl check out: The Right Bank’s Literary Pubs.

The Paris Literary Pub tour continues on to Hemingway’s Montparnasse soon…

Paris holds a remarkable place in English-language literature. As any Hemingway fan will tell you, Paris has been a Moveable Feast for young and old writers, from Americans Getrude Stein and Scott Fitzgerald to Irishmen Samuel Becket and James Joyce. Some of the greatest contemporary novels and plays have been written by Anglophones living in small apartment flats, frequenting Paris’ cafes and parks for inspiration.

Quite often for writers (pardon the cliché) the best inspiration is found in a bottle. Bars and pubs dating back to Hemingway’s Lost Generation still serve up pints in Paris and are haunted by the stories and spirits of ‘inspired’ wordsmiths. Today many of the watering holes have remained remarkably similar to what they were before the second world war. The right bank, home to many New York Habitat accommodations, is the site of several bars with hefty literary traditions.

Eiffel Tower: Paris, France

To begin New York Habitat’s literary pub crawl visitors should start on the Right Bank. Exit the Metro at the Opera station and marvel at the gilded batiment on the way to your first pint or cocktail.

The first stop on our Right Bank crawl is at the Café de la Paix. The Paix is a classy old-world eatery just around the corner from the Opera building. Author Henry James dined here some 100 years ago when the cheapest glass of wine cost heaps less than today’s €8 euros. If your on a budget have a glass of wine, enjoy the chateau-like surroundings and get out of there, if your not stay and have dinner at one of Paris’ finest restaurants.

Next stop on our crawl is only a block and a half away at Harry’s New York Bar. Harry’s New York Bar has been a hangout for generations of literary superstars. The bar’s “Society of International Barflies” counts four Nobel Prize winners among its official members; Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Faulkner and Steinbeck. The list of writers said to have frequented Harry’s is staggering–including Gertrude Stein, Marguerite Duras, Sylvia Beach, Edith Wharton and Simone de Beauvoir. Harry’s invented the Bloody Mary, possibly with easing a Hemingway hangover in mind. The bar was a favorite of GIs during World War II and remains a citadel for Americans in Paris who gather to watch sporting events or celebrate results on US election nights. The bar even holds a straw vote among its American patrons shortly before American elections (Bush won in 2000, lost to Kerry in 2004).

The final stop on our Right Bank literary pub crawl is the Ritz Hotel bar, named after old papa Hemingway himself. According to legend Hemingway and a small contigent of American GIs liberated the bar in 1944. Today the rather small bar has been restored to its old look and feel. Visitors receive some of the world’s most magnificent cocktails and pay the price for them, the drinks cost around (gulp) €25.

Paris Accommodation: Studio in Opera - Le Louvre (PA-3338)

Taxis can be sparse at night so it’s probably better to rent a New York Habitat apartment in the quarter if you plan to drink like James Joyce. Steps from our pub crawl is this colorful studio vacation accommodation in Opera - Le Louvre (PA-3338). Visitors also won’t have a problem stumbling into this 2-bedroom accommodation in Opera - Le Louvre (PA-2719). Just remember to be kind to your neighbors when your return and keep the noise down.
 
While the Lost Generation left Paris generations ago a new group of writers, including funny-man David Sedaris and the writer or this article, continue to call the city, and her pubs, home. 

We continue our literary pub crawl on the Left Bank next week…