Paris 4ème, 57 m² Piso en venta

Large studio apartment with 56.5m² (608 sq ft) of Carrez Law surface, in a 17th-century listed historic building at the heart of Île Saint-Louis. Atypical floor plan. Situated on the first floor with access via a private staircase, giving it the feel of a small house. Facing south and with a 3.5m (11.5 ft) ceiling height, it is bathed in light all day long.

The staircase leads to a 48m² (517 sq ft) generously proportioned dual-aspect main room designed as an ideal living space. Its layout creates several separate spaces – lounge, dining area and sleeping area – without ever blocking off the light. The separate kitchen preserves the reception room and is highly convenient for everyday life.

A bathroom with toilet rounds off the property. Two storage spaces enable the main room to be kept uncluttered.

A parking space accessed directly from the building, available at an additional cost, is a practical asset rarely found on the island.

The apartment was renovated in 2001 in the pure 17-century spirit, preserving the original architectural features while adding contemporary comforts.

Pont Marie and Sully-Morland metro stations (line 7) are a few minutes’ walk away. The food shops, galleries and restaurants of Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île are also nearby. A pied-à-terre with great character, in the historical heart of Paris.

Life on Île Saint-Louis

An island designed in the 17th century

Île Saint-Louis is one of the residential districts of Paris that has remained virtually intact since the ‘Grand Siècle’. Up to the early 17th century, the island was separated into two islets – Ile Notre-Dame and Ile aux Vaches – which were used mainly for cattle grazing and wood storage. In 1614, under the reign of King Louis XIII, a developer called Christophe Marie, in partnership with Lugles Poulletier and François Le Regrattier, obtained permission to join the two islets together, divide them into lots, and build bridges to connect them to the river banks. The resulting map is a simple design: a central street, Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île, crosses the island from east to west, while perpendicular streets lead down to the quaysides. The developers’ names have been enshrined in its heritage, in the form of Pont Marie bridge, Rue Poulletier and Rue Le Regrattier.

In the space of a few decades, magistrates, financiers and Nobles of the Robe built private mansions on the island. The understated façades, carved carriage entrances and slate roofs still form the island’s identity. Le Vau, Le Brun and the great craftsmen of the period worked on the projects. The mansions Hôtel Lambert, at the eastern tip, and Hôtel de Lauzun, on Quai d'Anjou, are prime examples of 17th-century Parisian architecture and interior design. This harmonious style, perpetuated through the island's many listed historic buildings, lends each street a coherence found virtually nowhere else in the capital.

Saint-Louis-en-l'Île church, built from 1664 to designs by Louis Le Vau, forms its spiritual heart. Its open-work bell tower and clock suspended across the street are distinctive landmarks. Inside, its woodwork, gilding and paintings make it popular both as a place to visit and a venue for concerts, of Baroque music in particular.

The Seine and the river banks

Living on the island means living with the River Seine. The island is circled by four quays: Quai de Bourbon and Quai d'Anjou to the north, facing the Marais district, and Quai d'Orléans and Quai de Béthune to the south, facing the Left Bank. Lined with poplar and plane trees they form an attractive unbroken promenade, punctuated by flights of steps down to the lower banks. Ideal for a morning run or a stroll. In the evening, the low sunlight illuminating the pale gold stone and the shimmering water create one of Paris's most photographed views.

Quai d'Orléans faces the east end of Notre-Dame Cathedral and its flying buttresses. Notre-Dame was reopened to the public in December 2024 after the restorations, and is just a short walk away across Pont Saint-Louis footbridge. Square Barye, at the island’s eastern tip, is a shaded garden offering views of the Seine and passing riverboats. An enchanting spot to read or share a picnic on a summer’s day, away from the hustle and bustle of Paris.

Five bridges connect the island with the rest of the city: Pont Marie and Pont Louis-Philippe leading to the Right Bank, Pont de la Tournelle and Pont de Sully to the Left Bank, and Pont Saint-Louis to the Ile de la Cité. Pont Marie, completed in the first half of the 17th century, is one of Paris’s oldest bridges still in use.

Illustrious inhabitants

Île Saint-Louis has always attracted artists, writers and free thinkers. Voltaire stayed at Hôtel Lambert as a guest of Émilie du Châtelet. Charles Baudelaire lived at Hôtel de Lauzun and hosted meetings of the Club des Haschischins, whose members included Théophile Gautier. Camille Claudel had a studio on Quai de Bourbon, where she worked for more than ten years. Later, President Georges Pompidou made Quai de Béthune his Parisian home. Plaques on some of the façades bear witness to this literary and artistic heritage.

This history is reflected in the secluded residential feel that the island has retained to this day. Traffic is restricted, and major thoroughfares pass it by. For a district just a stone’s throw from Paris’s City Hall, the peace and quiet is astonishing.

Neighbourhood life

A village feel in the heart of Paris. Rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Île is home to most of the island’s shops: bakeries, cheese shops, delicatessens, wine merchants and greengrocers, alongside bookshops, art galleries, designer boutiques and antique shops. The locals do their daily shopping there, and the merchants greet them by name. This tight-knit community spirit is often hard to find in large residential districts.

The family-run Berthillon ice cream parlour, established in 1954, has made Île Saint-Louis famous far beyond the confines of Paris. Visitors mingle with regulars on café terraces, in quayside bistros and in restaurants along the main street. Right opposite, on Quai de la Tournelle, the Tour d'Argent is one of the capital’s longest-standing restaurants.

For shopping beyond basic essentials, supermarkets, markets, pharmacies and services can be found in the Marais and Saint-Paul districts, a few minutes’ walk away on the Right Bank. On the Left Bank, the market on Place Maubert rounds off the array of local purveyors.

Schools

For a family or a buyer looking to settle somewhere long-term, a number of well-regarded schools can be found on the island and in the surrounding area. On the island itself, Saint-Louis-en-l'Isle public primary school offers local children a welcoming, close-knit learning environment. In the 4th arrondissement, Cité Scolaire Charlemagne on Rue Charlemagne combines lower and upper secondary schools and is just a few minutes’ walk away via Pont Marie. Sophie-Germain upper secondary school, on Rue de Jouy, and Massillon private primary school, on Quai des Célestins, round off the options on the Right Bank.

On the Left Bank, accessible on foot via Pont de la Tournelle, the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève district is home to several reputed upper secondary schools including Henri-IV and Louis-le-Grand. The Latin Quarter, with the Sorbonne and numerous higher education institutions, is also very close by.

Culture and walks

Much of historic Paris can be reached on foot from the island. The Marais district, home to Place des Vosges, the Hôtel de Sully, Musée Carnavalet and Musée Picasso, begins on the other side of Pont Marie. A pleasant quayside walk leads to the Pompidou Centre and City Hall. To the east, the Arsenal library and Pavillon de l'Arsenal, devoted to the architecture of Paris, are also well worth a visit.

The terrace of the Institut du monde arabe, across Pont de Sully, offers sweeping views of the island and Notre-Dame Cathedral. A bit further away, the Jardin des Plantes and the Natural History Museum are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The Latin Quarter and its bookshops (including Shakespeare and Company opposite Notre-Dame), arthouse cinemas and cafés, is just a few minutes away.

In summer, the pedestrianised quays and riverside events bring the area to life well into the evening. And all year round, the island offers its residents a special privilege: the ability to step from a quiet 17-century street straight into the hustle and bustle of the capital’s major cultural districts.

Transport and access

Despite its village feel, the island is well connected. Pont Marie metro station (line 7) is just across the bridge of the same name, while Sully-Morland station (also line 7) is on the other side of Pont de Sully. Saint-Paul station (line 1) leads directly to the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées and La Défense. The Châtelet and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame interchanges are within walking distance and provide access to RER lines A, B and C and, hence, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports. Gare de Lyon and Gare d'Austerlitz railway stations are also nearby, putting trains to the south of France or destinations in Europe within easy reach. Several bus lines run across or parallel to the island [line numbers and journey times to be confirmed on Bercail], and there are plenty of Vélib' bike stations in the surrounding area.

This makes the parking space available for purchase at an additional cost even more valuable. With parking in the island being difficult, it offers owners wishing to keep a car in Paris total freedom.

A pied-à-terre in central Paris

Île Saint-Louis combines a number of benefits that are difficult to find in an single place: a historic location, a peaceful residential setting, a genuine neighbourhood feel and a central location where everything is within walking distance. With its private staircase, south-facing aspect and renovation true to the spirit of the 17th century, this spacious studio is very much in keeping with this tradition. It provides a private base in Paris, with the city on its doorstep – whether for a few days each month or as a year-round home. Fees payable by the seller - Number of lots in the building: 24 – Average amount of the share of charges: €3,012/year – Médéric de Rivoyre – Estate agent – EI – RSAC 841703689