New Condominiums for Sale in Historic District Heart of Paris

50 New Condominiums for Sale in the Heart of Paris

Hotel Voysin, the last private mansion of the Marais district in the heart of Paris and close to Place des Vosges, offers 50 extraordinary residences that have been completely re-envisioned in collaboration with French national architects Monchecourt & Cord.  A rare offering featuring only the highest quality of materials throughout in one of the most desirable locations in Europe.  Delivery is expected at the end of 2013.  Please call if you’re interested in these exquisite residences!

Below is more information on the famous Marais District…fascinating!

Le Marais

According to Wikipedia, Le Marais (“The Marsh”, French pronunciation: [maʁɛ]) is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance. It spreads across parts of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements in Paris (on the Rive Droite, or Right Bank, of the Seine).

Hôtel de Sens

Hôtel de Guénégaud

Entrance of the Hôtel d’Albret

The Hôtel de Sully‘s Gardens, near the Place des Vosges

Jewish shop in the Marais

Street artist reproducing Vermeer‘s Girl with a Pearl Earring on the sidewalk (2005)

The courtyard of the Hôtel Carnavalet

The corps de logis of the Hôtel de Soubise

Right view of the rue des Francs-Bourgeois in direction of the Place des Vosges

 

History

Paris aristocratic district

In 1240 the Order of the Temple built its fortified church just outside Paris’s walls, in the northern part of the Marais. The Temple turned the district into an attractive area, and many religious institutions were built nearby: the des Blancs-Manteaux, de Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie and des Carmes-Billettes convents, as well as the church of Sainte-Catherine-du-Val-des-Écoliers.

During the mid-13th century, Charles I of Anjou, King of Naples and Sicily, and brother of King Louis IX of France built his residence near the current n°7 rue de Sévigné.^[1] In 1361 the King Charles V built a mansion known as the Hôtel Saint-Pol in which the Royal Court settled during his reign as well as his son’s.

From that time to the 17th century and especially after the Royal Square (Place Royale, current place des Vosges) was designed under King Henri IV in 1605, the Marais was the French nobility’s favorite place of residence. French nobles built their urban mansions there^[2] such as the Hôtel de Sens, the Hôtel de Sully, the Hôtel de Beauvais, the Hôtel Carnavalet, the Hôtel de Guénégaud, and the Hôtel de Soubise.

Jewish community

After the nobility started to move to the Faubourg Saint-Germain, the district became a popular and active commercial area, hosting one of Paris’ main Jewish communities. At the end of the 19th century and during the first half of the 20th, the district around the rue des Rosiers, referred to as the “Pletzl“, welcomed many Eastern European Jews (Ashkenazi) who reinforced the district clothing specialization. But, during World War II the Jewish community was targeted by the Nazis who were occupying France.

The rue des Rosiers is still a major centre of the Paris Jewish community, which has made a renewal since the 1990s. Public notices announce Jewish events, bookshops specialize in Jewish books, and numerous restaurants and other outlets sell kosher food.

The synagogue on 10 rue Pavée, not far from rue des Rosiers, is a strong religious centre. It was designed in 1913 by Art Nouveau architect Hector Guimard, famous for having designed several Paris Metro stations.

Post-war rehabilitation

By the 1950s, the district had become a working-class area and most of its architectural masterpieces were in bad state of repair. In 1964, General de Gaulle’s Culture Minister Andre Malraux made the Marais the first secteur sauvegardé (literally secured area). These were meant to protect and conserve places of special cultural significance. The following decades, the government and the Parisian municipality have led an active restoration and Rehabilitation Policy.

The main Hôtels particuliers have been restored and turned into museums: the Hôtel Salé hosts the Picasso Museum, the Hôtel Carnavalet hosts the Paris Historical Museum, the Hôtel Donon hosts the Cognac-Jay Museum etc. The site of Beaubourg, the western part of Marais, was chosen for the Centre Georges Pompidou, France’s national Museum of Modern Art and one of the world’s most important cultural institutions. The building was completed in 1977 with revolutionary architecture by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.

Today’s Marais

The Marais is now one of Paris’ main localities for art galleries. Following its rehabilitation, the Marais has become a fashionable district, home to many trendy restaurants, fashion houses, and hype galleries.

The neighbourhood has experienced a growing gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by the existence of many gay cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops. These establishments are mainly concentrated in the southwestern portion of the Marais, many on or near the streets Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie and rue des Archives.

The Marais is also known for the strong Chinese community it hosts. The community began during World War I. At that time, France needed workers to replace its at-war soldiers and China decided to send a few thousands of its citizens on the condition that they would not take part of the war. After the 1918’s victory, some of them decided to stay in Paris, specifically living around the current rue au Maire. Today, most work in jewelery and leather-related products. The Marais’ Chinese community has settled in the north of the district, particularly in the surrounding of Place de la République. Right next to it, on the rue du Temple, is the Chinese Church of Paris.

Other features of the neighbourhood include the Musée Picasso, the house of Nicolas Flamel, the Musée Cognacq-Jay, the Musée Carnavalet and the new and very popular Café Charlot.

Notable residents

• Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully
• Urbain de Maillé-Brézé
• Armand de Vignerot du Plessis
• Princes of Rohan Soubise
• Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet
• Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné
• Maximilien Robespierre
• Victor Hugo
• John Galliano
• Ellen Mary Howells and Chloe Anna Julius
• Christophe Bessy
• Jack Lang
• Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Anne Sinclair

Places and monuments of note

• Church Saint Merri
• Church Notre Dame des Blancs Manteaux
• Hôtel de Sens
• Place des Vosges, including the home of Victor Hugo and Café Ma Bourgogne
• Musée Cognacq-Jay
• Musée Picasso
• National Archives, including the Hôtel de Soubise and Hôtel de Rohan
• Carnavalet Museum
• Hôtel de Sully
• Pletzl, the Jewish quarter
• Jim Morrison

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  Jo Goldenberg‘s restaurant on the rue des Rosiers, now closed

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  The Jewish restaurant Chez Marianne

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  A Jewish restaurant in the Jewish quarter of Paris called Pletzl

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  A Jewish bakery in the rue des Rosiers

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  A Jewish bakery in the rue des Rosiers

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  Hôtel de Sens

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  Hôtel Soubise

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  Maison de Jean Herouet au 54

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  Entrée de l’Hôtel d’Almeras au 30

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  Entrée de l’Hôtel d’Albret au 31

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  Hôtel de Coulanges au 37

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  Entrée de l’Hôtel de Coulanges

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  La rue des Francs-Bourgeois, direction la Place des Vosges

Elizabeth Taylor’s Home For Sale

Located on one of the best streets in Bel Air behind gates is Elizabeth Taylor’s ranch-style home surrounded by beautiful lush gardens and more.  As the gate opens, the driveway up takes you past the guardhouse to the main entrance of this 1960 home with views and complete privacy.  Inside you sense the many charming, festive and happy moments the home was filled with.  A great property reminiscent of the history of one of the greatest stars on the screen.  The house is available for $8.6 million, sits on 1.26 acres and is listed by a dear friend who is one of the best brokers in town, David Mossler.

For more information, contact me at (310) 270-6305 or chaya.vanessen@telesproperties.com

The Hamptons in Bel Air!

On Tuesday Sarah Blanchard and I went on caravan to see a few houses before we would go to other meetings we had to attend.  Well, we went to see this house which we hadn’t had a chance to see before but which had been on the market already for a while and … what a surprise!  IT IS A BEAUTY!!!  The owner took such great care in bringing this Hampton-style home to life; it was a JOY to just be in the house and imagine oneself either in the Hamptons (you literally feel like you’re on the East Coast overlooking the Atlantic) or even in Bali or on some coast in Europe!  I LOVE IT when an owner brings out the best a home could ever offer and she surely did!

The home is located at 11500 Orum Road in Bel Air, has 5 bedrooms and is approximately 4,300 square feet on a generous 20,040 square foot lot, AND is on a cul-de-sac.

For more information or to schedule a showing, please call Chaya van Essen at Teles Properties:  (310) 270-6305.

10505 Vestone Way, Bel Air

I’d tear it down – the layout is so haphazard – I had to force myself to see the rest of the house once I walked in.  It does have a pool in the back though …and of course it’s right off of one of the most famous streets in the world:  Stone Canyon.  The price is good:  just under $1,900,000.

For more information, contact Chaya van Essen @ Teles Properties:  424-202-3207/www.chayavanessen.com.  Located at 9811 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

1280 Stone Canyon Road, Bel Air

Okay, I admit it:  I LOVE this property – it feels like home to me (Europe).  It’s romantic, you feel like you’re out in the country, and it has old world charm written all over it.  Beautiful dark wood floors and the living room has high, dark coffered ceilings and a grand fireplace.  Below the main level is another living/play room with access to the gardens and pool, and lots of green/mature trees around!  The bedrooms upstairs are all well done.   Asking price:  $10,995,000 (almost $1,300/square feet).

For more information, contact Chaya van Essen @ Teles Properties:  424-202-3207.  Located at 9811 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Homes I Saw Today: 1345 Vista Moraga, Bel Air

This contemporary home has been on the market for a little over a month – I hadn’t had the chance to see it until today.  What a treat!  The main floor has a generous layout with all rooms opening up to the large grassy yard with pool and views of the ocean, the Getty Center, the mountains, and city lights.  Walls of glass and high ceilings make this home great for displaying large pieces of art.   With lots of light, beautiful woods, stone, and unique details, it’s a very clean, large-scaled modern you’d expect to see in Bali.  It’s one of those rare homes you’d feel perfectly comfortable relaxing all by yourself, with your family, or entertaining lots of (even your pickiest) friends.   It’s just under 9,400 square feet on a little over 2 acres.

For more information, contact Chaya van Essen at Teles Properties:  424-202-3207

Knocking on the door in Bel Air

So here we were – my real estate partner and I:  One of our clients from New York is looking for a very specific style house within the gates of Bel Air, and since nothing is currently on the market that would qualify we went searching the streets of Bel Air for a home that meets our client’s requirements re architecture.  We find it, and ring the doorbell.  Someone answers!  We’re in luck…We ask if the owner is available and sure enough, the voice confirms that the owner is home and proceeds to open the gate.  We walk up to the door and yes, someone opens.  It turns out to be the housekeeper and she invites us in with a big welcoming smile, and tells us to step into the living room.  The home looks impeccably maintained.  Two lovely dogs run up to us and – like all good realtors do – we entertain the dogs.  After some long, long minutes go by we start to realize that there must be a misunderstanding and we again explain to the housekeepr that we are realtors and would like to speak to the owner.  Oh, now she understands and she disappears in what seems to be a bedroom to notify the owner.  We talk amongst ourselves and are under the impression that maybe the owner is elderly and needs some help getting to the living room.  We wait a little longer and oh my … out of the ‘bedroom storms this absolutely beautiful blonde woman asking us what in the world we are doing in the middle of her living room!!!  We politely ask her if she’s interested in selling her home and she says in no uncertain terms: “No, NEVER!!!”  Ok, ok, we get the picture and try to get out of there as quickly as possible almost falling over ourselves.  The worst part is the housekeeper …we can’t help but fear for her employment as she so graciously allowed us (2 not unattractive women but unknown to her) into the gorgeous home of her employer.  We both KNOW she’s going to get a real dressing down, and hope for the best …that the owner forgave her and we’ll make sure next time the housekeeper knows what she’s doing!!!

And what are my real estate partner and I doing now?  On to the very few other suitable homes in Bel Air, ringing door bells and knocking on doors, determined to get our client the house he so much desires.

You never know … next time your doorbell rings it just might be my real estate partner and me …looking for that VERY SPECIAL property!