Le Plongeoir de l'Île Saint Louis

An Iconic House on l’Île Saint-Louis

The Île Saint-Louis has been residential since the 17th century, when its two marshy islands were merged and parcelled out to aristocratic families. This apartment is found inside one of the quayside buildings that define the area—Haussmann-era architecture held in exceptional condition, with the kind of ceiling heights and window proportions the Baron's engineers were explicitly instructed to produce. The renovation layers a contemporary sensibility onto that framework. Collector furniture sits against original marble, and large-format figurative paintings read well against the white walls and the abundant river light.

Chevron-laid oak parquet runs throughout. Three original fireplaces, including a substantial burgundy marble surround in the main reception, anchor the principal rooms. The living area is wide enough to hold a curved cream sofa, velvet tub chairs, a slatted timber coffee table, and a Pierre Jeanneret–style daybed at the window. The kitchen is fitted with a marble worktop and professional-grade equipment. A second kitchen allows for staff or catering service when required.

Wrought-iron balconies run the length of the Seine-facing facade, accessed through full-height French doors. The views are immediate and uninterrupted: the river directly below, the quays of the Left Bank opposite, Notre Dame's towers visible upstream. The island's tree-lined quays begin directly at street level, offering some of the finest riverside walks in Paris.

What we love

The river light moves through the rooms all day, catching the marble fireplace surround in the morning and the large-format paintings by afternoon. The owners have a particular eye. Each piece of furniture was chosen for its own reasons, sitting confidently against 19th-century bones. Walk out the front door, and Le Sergent Recruteur, chef Alain Pégouret's Michelin-starred room, is practically next door.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Paris sleeps up to eight guests. Le Saint Louis occupies a single floor of 420 square meters. It has four bedroom suites, each with an en-suite bathroom. Two additional guest bathrooms serve the reception areas. Three original fireplaces are distributed across the principal rooms. There are two fully equipped kitchens, one opening onto the main living and dining areas, a second configured for staff or catering use. Private parking for one car is included.

Good to know

No car is needed for most cultural destinations. Private parking is included with the apartment. The Île Saint-Louis has no metro station. The nearest are Pont Marie (Line 7) and Sully–Morland, both a short walk across a bridge. Bus 67 runs through the island.

Amenities & services

Private parking, wifi

Around

The Île Saint-Louis sits at the geographic heart of Paris, separated from the rest of the city by water on all sides and connected by four bridges. Its main street, Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île, is lined with fromageries, boulangeries, wine merchants, and Berthillon, the ice cream institution that has been on this island since 1954. For dinner with purpose, Le Sergent Recruteur (Michelin one-star, chef Alain Pégouret, formerly of Laurent) is a 10-minute walk. The Marais, with its galleries, Place des Vosges, and the Picasso Museum, is one bridge away to the north. Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter are walkable south across the Pont de la Tournelle. Notre-Dame, now fully restored, is five minutes on foot across the Pont Saint-Louis. No car required.