Adventure, Escape, Wanderlust

by Mario Philogene

This winter, we had the wonderful opportunity to tour three of the Concorde Group’s finest Parisian hotels: the de Crillon, the du Louvre and the Lutetia.

Hôtel de Crillon

The Hôtel de Crillon is on the Place de la Concorde, joining the Tuilerie Gardens with the Champs-Elysées. It was built as a private palace for the Count de Crillon over 300 years ago but is now one of the City of Lights’ iconic 5-star hotels. Every year the winner of the Tour de France celebrates from one of the de Crillon’s private veranda, waving to adoring crowds below. Each room is very well-appointed with views of the Boissy d’Anglais, the famous Rue de Rivoli or the obelisk of Luxor. Despite its ideal location the de Crillon’s rooms are remarkably quiet, graciously affording guests with luxury and classic style at the center of it all.

Hôtel du Louvre

The Hôtel du Louvre is a more intimate hotel in the first arrondisement. Its rich Napoleon III era inspired décor is balanced by each room’s unique charm. The du Louvre benefits from its excellent location as well. It is just steps away from some of Paris’s most renowned icons like the Louvre Museum, the Palais Royal and the Comédie Française. Despite its grand location, the du Louvre maintains its very Parisian “boutique” charm.

Hôtel Lutetia

The third hotel we visited was the Lutetia. It is located in the chic Saint-Germain-des-Prés district on the Left Bank. The hotel has a bohemian character, featuring an art deco/Belle-époque inspired façade and the work of past artists-in-residence inside. The Lutetia has also had a remarkable history since being built in 1909 by Louis Vuitton. It has served as the Gestapo headquarters during World War II as well as a refuge for Europe’s downtrodden when the war was over. The hotel offers spacious, modern rooms that are classic but fresh. They have just completed renovations that preserve the Lutetia’s artistic heritage while still providing the 21^st-century amenities discerning travelers expect.

To book your stay at these and other fine hotels, please e-mail us at request@lindentravel.com or contact your Linden Travel Consultant. For more information about Linden Travel, please visit our website at www.lindentravel.com.