Masculine without being macho, handsome without being austere, St Guillaume is a stellar modern retreat that will make any vacation in Paris one to remember.

LOCATION

This exclusive 2nd and 3rd floor apartment is located in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the cultural, artistic, and fashion center of Paris: One block away from the Saint-Germain church and fashionable literary watering holes Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots and Brasserie Lipp, a stroll away from the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Maillol - which is located right next to Barthelmy's, arguably best cheese shop in the western world.

DESCRIPTION

This apartment is a 2nd and 3rd floor apartment (1st and 2nd 'étages' in France where the ground floor is level zero). Going in, there is a large foyer, high ceiling balanced by an original Ingo Maurer chandelier, closets, credenza and large mirror.

Very spacious, redesigned in 2002 with exquisite taste, this luxurious apartment has 13-foot ceilings balanced by an original Ingo Maurer chandelier in the entrance, and French windows.

The first level starts with a large (about 600 sq ft) living and dining room. Ceiling is 13 ft high, three full height French windows, luxuriously furnished, modern Italian and French, B&B and Mode et Nature, with original paintings. Facing the French windows, there is a 13 ft high glass partition opening to the second part of this floor and to the mezzanine/TV room described below. Blinds provide privacy when required.

Three steps down to a modern kitchen, large exercise room with Converse Rower, Life Fitness elliptic trainer and dual action exercise bike.

Another room/study, sleeps two(queen-size bed). Bathroom with shower. Washer and dryer. Top floor includes full bath, one bedroom with two single beds, one bedroom with queen bed. This bedroom has its own private shower bathroom. Both bedrooms overlook the building's private garden, next to a clerical retreat. (The apartment sits in a building owned by a religious order until the 1950's.)

The top floor also includes a mezzanine TV room.

Parking:

One parking spot downstairs, # 35. Another spot, # 10, could be available if the owners, who have another apartment in the building, are not in town.

Public transportation:

Public transportation offers three Métro stations within 5 minutes walk ( Sèvres Babylone, Rue du Bac and Saint Germain des Prés), bus stops and taxi stands. One is right in front of Lipp, lines to be expected at peak hours, when it rains or for no reason at all. Walking is also an option , we recommend crossing the Seine over the Academy bridge, or the Pont Henri IV, an excellent wine bistro in the middle of the bridge is available for relief.

Shopping:

Take a right coming out of the building and, thirty paces later, you are in rue de Grenelle where we counted 22 shoe stores. Besides the cheese store already mentioned, you'll find two small "superettes", one open 24 hours in a Shell gas station for necessities including Lu Petits Beurres and Lindt milk chocolate.

Two wine stores, butchers, Guilhen is the best, Dalloyau pastry shop, seafood store and the indispensable hardware store on the corner of rue de Grenelle and rue du Bac.

A little further, you have the Bon Marché department store and, next to it, their mind-boggling grocery store. Also, on rue du Bac, walking back from the Bon Marché, the 'colonial' Hédiard food store and closer to the rue de Grenelle corner a serious Cognac and wine place, on the right hand side. They have your birth year vintage.

Bread is best bought at Poilâne, rue du Cherche-Midi, at Monoprix, rue de Rennes, all 5 mins away. Monoprix will deliver. The ultimate baguette is rue Saint Placide, 10 minutes away, second bakery on the right from rue de Seine.

And, for pastry and abuse, Gerard Mulot, on the place du Marché Saint Sulpice. Bring Euros, your ATM card will work at most dispensers, otherwise they sneer at you when you produce a credit card but, their clafoutis is worth the pain. Pierre Hermé, rue Bonaparte, right across from Saint Laurent, is often crowded, ethereal and they take plastic, very politely.

As for clothes, you're in heaven, Boulevard Saint Germain, left when exiting the apartment and right on the boulevard, rue de Rennes and all the small street.

Try rue Bonaparte right towards Saint Sulpice or left at the Deux Magots, Louis Vuitton is Louis Vuitton but the Arthus Bertrand shop is worth a close look. On the corner of Bonaparte and Jacob a great pastry and tea room to rest your feet after shopping, or for a rebound.

Please note: there is an extra $700 charge per week and per extra guest should the apartment be rented for more than 6 guests.