"Le Meurice"

Bonjour!  I just want to share this incredible hotel with you.   "Le Meurice" on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris is one of the most spectacular places I have ever had the privilege to lay my head!  As you know we were in rural France whilst Andrew did his cycling tour and I came back to Paris via Geneva about midweek.  It was such a wonderful experience to be in Paris for the centenary of Le Tour de France and one that we will never forget!  Above is the view from our suite overlooking the Fair (which Georgiana lived for!) and the Louvre in the background ....

Le Meurice was renovated recently by the world famous interior designer, Phillipe Starck, and one of my personal favourites.  The ability to create whimsy whilst still adhering to tradition and history is quite unique and very apparant at Le Meurice!  The interiors are stunning and very rich and decadent whilst still feeling warm and welcoming.  The staff are incredible and greeted my nephew and his new bride to be with the same elegance they did ourselves, even though they arrived with backpacks in tow!

Beautiful flower arrangements were bountiful and I couldn't contain my excitement and appreciation for such beauty....

The grey carpets and grey and gold upholstery were beautiful!

I actually felt quite chuffed as the colour in the bathroom is nearly the same grey that I picked for our ensuite at home...

Gorgeous bathrobes ....

Roses in the bathroom sitting on the calcutta marble bench top ... the vanities were very art deco with a rectangular shape with truncated edges .... 

on the day we arrived these canapes were waiting along with a beautiful bottle of champagne ....

view of the Tulieries Gardens and the Louvre ...

Philippe Starck's brilliance!

so gorgeous ... this is the top of the coffee tables in one of the waiting rooms ..

 a little bit of shopping!

the best foie gras I have ever tasted!

chilled champagne in the Hotel Meurice ice bucket

followed by a confection from Laduree ... Parfait!

our door

the beautiful foyer 

my favourite swan chairs

a private dining room

my nephew, Tom, and his beautiful bride to be, Kate .... 

welcome to Le Meurice

you will be enchanted ....

Le Tour buses coming in ....

beautiful Paris

17th Century France

Bonjour from beautiful France!  I have been staying in this gorgeous Chateau in the valley of Haute Savoie in the Rhone  Alps region of eastern France.  Andrew, Georgiana and I have come on holiday and whilst Andrew is doing his cycling section of the holiday,

 we have had the privilege of staying in this incredible 17th century chateau.  Andrew's sister and her husband own it and have renovated parts of it with more still to do.  They have done a fabulous job especially having to co-ordinate the interior design and building works from London. 

The gardens and grounds of the chateau are stunning and actually quite English in style with climbing roses, stocks and foxglove running riot.  The grounds boast a tree that is over 300 years old with its branches and greenery still rich and strong.  The tree is above just to the left of the chateau.

The formal gates herald the entry to the back part of the chateau with the gravelled driveway bordering the lawn.  The pillars and finials would have been crafted by the local stonemasons in the village.

The pale blue shutters sit softly against the stone facade...

The chequered flagstones are cool underfoot ....

The chateau dates back to 1676 and this is stamped in the lintel above the main doorway ... surrounded by climbing roses ... 

This is one of the girls' bedrooms and Gabes has done a fantastic job of designing and creating these bunkbeds in alcoves and using the gorgeous blonde oak which works so beautifully with the Gustavian blue paint and herringbone sisal flooring.  The work was done by a master French craftsman.

The rooms are charming.... 

very traditional French red checks against the pale blue walls are elegant with the dark antique chest of drawers anchoring the room. 

The area has two distinct holiday seasons .... the winter alpine season where the snow can be a metre deep outside and the summer where it is hot and summer sports abound. 

The use of this beautiful Pierre Frey fabric on the skirt and padded bedhead depicts an alpine ski scene and is so perfect for this room with the backdrop of the red paintwork.  

Pleated ikat lampshades sit on a console table behind the sofa in the living room .... this is where the Christmas tree goes each winter.

The kitchen is very warm and inviting with the blue painted cabinetry and the red terracotta tiles ...

another shot of the 300 year old tree standing grandly in its place beside the chateau....

Gabes bought a watermelon from London and it was quite hot so tossed it in the water trough to cool off!

fresh strawberries from the markets and cheese .... this was where we sat for drinks each night ....

Foxglove in full bloom!

Supper on the terrace as the sun goes down ...

How idyllic .... what a pleasure it has been to share this historic chateau and grounds with my family!  Congratulations on a stunning home!

Thank-you!