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emilio pucci from didier ludot in the palais royale - vicki archer
Le Palais Royal, stunning garden and former residence of Cardinal Richelieu, is opposite the north wing of the Louvre. This is one small part of Paris that I adore... (slightly annoying that much has been hidden by scaffolding in the last few years... but all in the name of restoration...) The gravel... the double row of pleached lime trees... the fountain... the Daniel Buren candy striped installation... the hanging lanterns in the colonnades and the gold tipped iron railings... all these beautiful features make it a memorable place to promenade.
After our birthday lunch we climbed up and down on Buren's rock candy like blocks (it's allowed) ... snapped ourselves silly.... crunched our way over the gravel... wove in and out through the clipped-to-perfection trees before doing a lap of the boutiques and restaurants... Every year the boutiques in Le Palais Royal become more of a temptation... serious restraint is called for... except at the Serge Lutens perfume boutique... that is not allowed... (the samples they so generously give keep my travel bag happy for months...)
Le Palais Royal never seems to be crowded... We left the bustling, buzzing rue du Faubourg St Honore
to find ourselves almost alone in the gardens and vaulted walkways of the Palais Royal... and that is an extraordinary treat in a metropolis like Paris... quiet, room to move and architectural visuals to make even the most hardened traveller teary... a part of Paris not to be missed... especially in winter. It might be bare and seemingly abandoned, but that was the beauty... to have it all to ourselves... to treasure this intimacy... Whether you crave sublime scent, serious fashion, Michelin starred cuisine or just a moment to respirer... Le Palais Royal would be my choice... xv
A few more for your Parisian address book...
Didier Ludot
125 Galerie de Valois
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 40 15 01 04
Pierre Hardy
156 Galerie de Valois
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 42 60 59 75
Acne Studio
124 Galerie de Valois
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 42 60 16 62
Maison Fabre
128-129 Galerie Valois
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 42 60 75 88
Boites a Musique Anna Joliet
9 rue de Beaujolais
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 42 96 55 13
Le Grand Vefour
17 rue de Beaujolais
Jardins du Palais Royale
75001 Paris
+33 1 42 96 56 27
To set the scene... you will love this...
my daily click HERE
Wow! Picture is great!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing collection!
ReplyDeleteWhat a luscious shot, Vicki. Palais Royale is one of my favorite spots in Paris - for shooting or strolling...or both!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping in to say 'bonjour' at La Fourchette. Lovely to 'meet' you!
Hi Vicki
ReplyDeleteYour day is Paris sounds idyllic. What a luxury to have a whole day to yourselves to stroll and just be together in one of the world's most beautiful cities. You have whetted my appetite for a visit to Serge Lutens.
Thanks for sharing your special day with us
Helen x
.. this little adventure of yours is seriously urging me to take a May trip! .. you do such a good job of what I see as the purpose of a blog; "to take your readers on a journey" ... and I must make a stop at Serge.
ReplyDeletethanks for taking us along ..
Karen in CT
Vicki, I can't believe I have walked past Le Palais Royal countless times and have never been in. This is the problem when you shop with daughters...their eyes are always straight up Champs-Elysses and mine are always set on museums and galleries. I have made a mental note for this one and a few others for the next visit... all via you. Merci! :)xx
ReplyDeleteAh, what can I do but agree! The Palais Royal is my home, on the scaffolding side (!) at balcony level just above Serge Lutens. My own little corner of paradise. And I do home exchanges.
ReplyDeleteLove these posts and this area of paris is one of my favorites
ReplyDeleteXx callie
One of my favorite places in Paris. Last time we where there I resisted temptation at Didier Ludot, but did pick up the prettiest pink and orange paisley umbrella at Marc Jacobs. After reading your post yesterday I found myself looking at airfares to Paris - my miles would take me there next Tuesday. Tempting... But I don't think I can be that spontaneous. But at least I could visit the Palais Royale with you this morning. Merci!
ReplyDeleteWho does not enjoy a stroll in the Palais Royal gardens? Personally, I wish the scaffoldings were hiding Buren's columns, instead of the building façade... but then I guess you and your travel companions would not have had so much fun ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteVicki, today you make my heart sing. I spend more and more time here each visit. My friend Peter now calls it MY Palais Royal. This trip the columns were again open for business but the Pol Bury fountains were under wraps as the Comedie Française is using that area for their performances! Grrrrr I will admit to being to intimidated to going inside the shops but now that I know about the parfumerie, I have it on my To Do list! Don't you love the glove shop???? Didier Ludot is always a photo op, even through the glass. Thank you for this lovely post today and the reminders of why I love the PR so much.
ReplyDeleteV
We try and stay in an apartment surround the gardens whenever we are there. We miss the sweet Le Prince du Jardinier shop that was on the square. Do you know where he has gone?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog, I love Paris but I have to admit never fully explored Palais Royal gardens as I should have. Next time I will make a point to know every corner.
ReplyDeleteLove that feeling of being in a secret serene sphere...aligned with, but apart from the taxi-tooting bustle.
ReplyDeleteDear Vicki,
ReplyDeleteI think that you really made the most of your time in Paris. A fun time was had by all I think.
I just wanted to say that, after your last post, I stumbled onto Serge Lutens blog where it said that, if you write to them at the Galerie de Valois, they will send, free of charge, Petit Livre Des Parfums, a selection of wax samples of their perfumes so, I have sent off for them !! XXXX
Oh to be in Paris! + Greeting from S. CA. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Emilio Pucci number! I love it :D
ReplyDeleteGreat blog you have, i love reading your posts :)
YURI
http://tigerlilysbook.blogspot.com
Agree absolutely...it's one of my most favourite places.....in fact, I think it's my favourite spot in Paris.
ReplyDeleteDear Vicki
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear it's being restored. When we were there two years ago, it was looking sadly lacklustre, though not so much the historic buildings as that's atmospheric and has character. But the gardens were rather tired and uncared for, several of the shops were unoccupied and looking down at heel, Didier Ludot's vintage clothes were also disappointing, most appeared very much worse for wear, not the glamorous lightly worn outfits I'd been looking forward to and Serge Lutens was unaccountably closed, even though it was supposedly during their opening hours. Instead, we kept returning to the Place des Vosges, doesn't have the fashion boutiques (though the Rue du Vieille du Temple and its boutique delights are only a few steps away), but a few interesting art galleries and the cafes were much better too. The square is extremely beautiful and the gardens well cared for and lovely. The tea salon, Carette, under the loggia, is fabulous. The other tea drinkers were usually mostly French and beautifully and often artistically dressed. A little differently from the more conservative fashion tastes perhaps but some were quite spectacular, including an elderly couple, she with long white hair and wearing green and purple (might sound garish but wasn't - she had great style) and he in a striped jacket. They looked like rich artists or as if they'd stepped out of Midnight in Paris and yet they didn't look anachronistic or old fashioned.
We were also impressed by the helpfulness and courtesy of the waiters there - one day a young Parisienne who had obviously had a wonderful time at Les Soldes as she had many many bags bags with designer labels suddenly had to take her little girl to the loo downstairs. She asked a waiter to mind her things while she rushed away. The waiter stood guard until called away himself but before he left found another staff member to stay with her table. We were so impressed. Especially also that she had such faith, clearly well-founded, in the staff there.
I love anything to do with Paris. Love your blog. New Follower.
ReplyDeleteJody
Big le sigh
ReplyDeleteVicki, I thought about you tonight while I was watching Midnight in Paris. It was wonderfully romantic and made me want to walk the streets of the City of Lights all over again. You're blessed to live the fairy-tale life in France!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics:) I really like your blog..so much nice inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a lovely weekend.
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(Sweden)
Vicki, I love how you so generously share your favorites and secrets. Your blog has become a bi part of my daily dose of France - thank you.
ReplyDeleteIn a follow-up to your skin care post from last week...I commented about all the lotions and potions I put on my face, and while that makes my skin feel better it makes it so hard to keep makeup on. I leave the house looking colorful and good, and by noon, I've blinked off all my eyeshadow and my blush is gone because I have such a base of moisture underneath!
Oh, winter...
This sounds like a perfect day! Someday I hope to be able to visit these wonderful places to shop! I have yet to go to Paris.
ReplyDeleteJenniferxx
Staying so very near PR on my last four visits, I have come to see this lovely garden as a quiet haven from the busy streets. One can always count on a shot of children playing, pups on leashes, a gathering around the fountain, and the several pairs of lovers seated on a bench near the roses. It is certainly a place for all seasons and times of day, and I love finding it all to myself on rare occassion.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Villa Lys. It is on my list.
Bises,
Genie
Loved hearing about your lunch day! What a fantastic treat for your niece.I have to visit Paris Royal next time if I am lucky enough to go to Paris.
ReplyDeleteTrishx
I wish I could visit Paris soon! It's such a great city with an unique atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteLots of greetings from Miami,
Tibs
shoptravelfood.blogspot.com
I agree... the Palais Roayl, c'est magique!
ReplyDeleteI am so behind on your posts Vicki but am back from a wonderful trip to the States. One thing I thought that you might appreciate. Many years ago (in the 80s), my Dad took us all to Paris on the "last great family vacation". On the plane on the way over he announced that each one of us could chose whatever restaurant we wanted to go to as long as we could get a reservation (no fool, he made this a last minute gamble). My choice? Le Grand Véfour. This was before Guy Martin and so it was relatively easy to get a reservation. It was a night to remember with an entire équipe at our service for our party of four. The room was the most beautiful that I have ever dined in and the food equally unforgettable. We all dressed up--it was a magical evening!
ReplyDelete