Window to Paris: From the Grands Boulevards to the Eiffel Tower

Paris: It was love at third sight

One of my favorite childhood movies is the Russian film Window to Paris. The film is about several protagonists who find out that they can get straight to Paris through a window in a St. Petersburg apartment by simply climbing through it. How much I wished for a window like that back then. So this time it was clear for me to find my own window on Paris. And I can tell you one thing: I found what I was looking for. Even three times.

In friendly cooperation with Grands Boulevards Hotel.

A weekend by train to Paris

My liaison with Paris was definitely not love at first sight, and no, not even at second sight. Many years ago, my trips to the city of love were anything but romantic. Disturbing would describe it more. Well, it was winter then and looking back the plan to celebrate New Year's Eve in Paris (at the Eiffel Tower!) turned out to be a crazy idea. In any case, I was so traumatized after my second trip to Paris that it took almost a decade before I wanted to revisit the city. It was already clear to me years ago that if I should ever go to Paris again, it would be in spring or summer. Because this time it should be different.

From Karlsruhe to Paris in just 2 hours and 30 minutes

I wanted to understand Paris, to share the enthusiasm and joy of millions of other people who can't stop raving about Paris. No rushing from sight to sight, no hurry, just observe the clichés and understand why I suddenly find them so wonderful too. I wanted to explore Paris on foot as much as possible, to lose myself in the city and its almost endless stories and even more: to become part of its history for a few moments, a small mosaic of thousands that are new every day. The ICE or TGV journey, which takes you from Karlsruhe to the world-famous city within 2h30, feels almost like a window to Paris.

Equipped with a good novel and a delicious cup of tea, the time flew by. Arrived at the Gare de l'Est we continued by bus. After a short drive we arrived at the Grands Boulevards. Our first address was the beautiful one Boutique hotel of the Grands Boulevards, located directly between the famous Art Deco cinema Le Grand Rex and numerous hip restaurants. Also nearby is one of the oldest cafés in Paris, the Café de La Paix.

Romantic & modern: The Hotel des Grands Boulevards

In my opinion, a successful Paris trip should not be without the right Parisian accommodation. After all, one thing arguably belongs to Paris like the air you breathe: the ability to enjoy the moment. And you can do that very well at the Grands Boulevards Hotel. That Grands Boulevards Hotel is exactly what I imagine a perfect stay in Paris to be. As the second hotel in Paris to be opened by the Experimental Group (other hotels are located in London and Venice, among others), it is central yet tucked away. A small romantic oasis in the middle of Paris, which immediately makes every interior heart beat faster. Because it was designed by none other than the famous one Design agency Dorothée Melichzon, who has also designed many hotels and clubs in Paris, London and New York.

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The perfect location to explore Paris on foot

The history behind the hotel is also interesting: It was built shortly after the French Revolution and was originally a cinema. Today, as a guest, it is not far to the Rex cinema and you can look forward to a small, picturesque garden and a wonderful rooftop terrace. Arrived in the room, we first treated ourselves to a coffee and enjoyed the view from the romantic window. My second window to Paris. As in the entire hotel, romance meets modernity in the rooms. We were allowed to use the spacious room no. 215 and were amazed at how much space we had, which is by no means a matter of course in hotels in a metropolis like Paris. After that we went out again. In half an hour's walk we reached Montmartre and the Sacré Coeur Basilica. The Galeries Lafayettes are just a 20-minute walk from the hotel and the main metro lines are practically in front of the hotel.

Korean food at Baoli Bao

By the way, if you don’t feel like driving the metro, you can get one of the countless e-scooters borrow, which are distributed all over the city. The electric scooters are on the rise in Paris and are currently competing with the bicycle as a means of transport. In the evening we strolled through the 9th and 10th arrondissement and were amazed by the huge variety of restaurants and cafes. One cool restaurant follows the other here. From unusual burgers, classic French cuisine to Korean specialties, you will find what you are looking for here. We have that Baoli Bao tried it out and were very surprised by the extraordinary card. A lot of young people, students and few tourists meet in this area.

In the footsteps of Coco Chanel and Salvador Dalí  

For a long time I've dreamed of waking up in the morning with a view of the Eiffel Tower and I never thought how quickly such a dream could come true. My wish was fulfilled in Hotel Duquesne. We were incredibly lucky to have room no. 56 with balcony. The room itself is very small but great, because you can enjoy the view of the Eiffel Tower from the balcony as well as directly from the bed and what can I say? The feelings are simply indescribable.

A hotel with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower

I would have loved to spend the whole day in bed enjoying this indescribably beautiful view of Paris from my third window. But Paris is too exciting for that. Instead, we went to what is probably the most beautiful station restaurant in the world: ins Le Train bleu at Gare de Lyon, which was built on the occasion of the 1900 Universal Exposition in Paris on behalf of the Compagnie Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée railway company.

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The Le Train bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon

The restaurant was originally called Buffet at the Gare de Lyon and was built in 1963 as a tribute to CIWL's former French luxury train, Train Bleu, in The Blue Train renamed. Famous regulars at the restaurant have included over the decades Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Gabin, Colette, Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dali. The restaurant is still very popular today (it is essential to reserve in advance).

Eating here is truly an unforgettable experience. It is the incomparable feeling of dining in the middle of a historical work of art. In this case, however, the artwork steals the show from the food. We found the singing performance by the friendly concierge particularly beautiful and unique. Pure goosebumps! After dinner we asked him where he learned to sing so beautifully and it turned out that he is a student at the Paris Conservatory. After our lunch we went on to the Musée D'Orsay.

That's Paris - isn't it?

Did you know that admission to the museums in Paris is free every first Sunday of the month? Very long queues included, of course. But that didn't bother us much because we weren't in a hurry. We wanted to enjoy Paris, completely relaxed and without the hustle and bustle. Then stand in front of the pictures and simply forget the time. That's how I like Paris. Sitting down in a bistro between excursions and looking at the hustle and bustle of the street, at the people who are in a hurry or not, at the countless stories behind each person that you probably can't even guess. This is Paris for me.

The next day we went to the Eiffel Tower in the same relaxed mood. Surprisingly we discovered so many parks and gardens around the Eiffel Tower that were practically completely "tourist free". I never would have thought that such a quiet walk would be possible almost directly at the Eiffel Tower. Of course, the closer you got to the Eiffel Tower, the more hectic it got. We decided not to go to the Eiffel Tower, but instead to have a little picnic in the park and photograph the many beautiful cherry blossoms in front of the Eiffel Tower.

That's the beauty of Paris: you decide at what pace you want to explore the city. Because almost everything is offered for every taste. But even that is just one facet of Paris. Because Paris is not just about the sights, the chic restaurants, all the fine addresses, fashion weeks and tourists. So are the many older people who, although they don't look like homeless people, still rummage through the garbage for food with tired eyes and sallow skin. These are also the lost, who are trying to pick themselves up piece by piece in this city. It is also the many employees who have to make do with the smallest living space, if they can find any at all.

Paris is a lavish celebration where you never know what may happen next. A party to which everyone is invited, but not everyone is treated equally. Nevertheless, people come and usually want to stay. Now I know what used to bother me about Paris, it wasn't the city itself, but how one-sidedly it is described by visitors. They tell only one page from a never-ending novel that is far from finished. For me Paris is a work of art, not always beautiful to look at, forever unfinished and yet an incomparable masterpiece.