25 Champs Elysees, Room # 5

Number 5 Champs Elysees, was the room we stayed in when we were in Paris at the Hotel Pavia. ( I did a post a while back and showed some photos )
Our room was on the top floor and the middle room. Had the smallest lift I have ever been in and went ever so slowly and was so glad when the little cage finally made it to our floor.

I loved the black paint, toile wallpaper and the stripey drapes in the bedroom.
My DH brushing up on our French phrase book , so we could try and " parlez Francais un petit peu", when we went out.

This was the beautiful picture hanging on the wall in our room, love the glamour and sophistication from a bygone era.



Aux Champs Elysees ~
A video about beautiful Paris with this wonderful song from Joe Dassin ( French singer)
I love this song and it makes my heart flutter when I hear it.
When we were at a Restaurant in Montmatre, a guy was playing this on the piano and singing...very romantic.

Hope that you are enjoying your week, it is Thursday here already, did the week speed up?
Seems like that for me.
Thank you for visiting me and the kind birthday wishes for my husband, he said to say many thanks.

Hugs
Carolyn

25 Champs Elysees

The Hotel Paiva ~
some of the information was taken from the book by Peter Fleetwood Hesketh.

Deeply recessed and half hidden by modern commercial buildings, stands the dim facade of the only remaining hotel particulier in the Avenue des Champs -Elysees, a monument to the triumphal ascent from obscure poverty, to fortune and fame, of one of the most dedicated adventuresses of 19th-century Europe.
It is now the Travellers Club.

Thérèse Lachmann, later Mme Villoing, later Mme la Marquise de Païva, later Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck (1819-84)

She was described as possessing a beautiful figure, a Grecian neck, thick auburn hair and superb eyes. With these attributes, an astute mind, an indomitable will and almost unlimited energy as her sole assets.
In 1855 the first step was taken towards the realization of Therese's ambition to build the most sumptuous house in Paris.

[1857] la Païva was said to be the best and most elegant hôtel in Paris, her dinners are reputed to be exquisite, she entertains many artists and men of letters, and her conversation is said to be witty.

Its completion took many years, Therese supervising every detail and it was not until 1866 that she moved in and held her housewarming party, said to have included the entire literary, artistic, political, and diplomatic life of Paris and for its lavishness to have resembled something out of the Arabian Nights.


Come and I will show you around



A great oval in the ceiling contains a portrait of Day pursuing Night, whose figure of Night is said to portray Mme de Paiva herself.
It is by Paul Baudry, better known for his work at the Opera.

The fireplace in the Grand Salon decorated with two marble figures which many believe to be the likeness, of the Marquise de Paiva herself.

The hôtel Païva was to be, as its châtelaine intended, the most luxurious private hôtel in Paris.
Walking around this home really took your breath away, with the look of opulence, the sparkling chandeliers, the vibrant colours, and all the wonderful antique treasures.

My first post I had written sadly was deleted by the blogger meltdown.
I had published it and even and had some comments, so had to redo this.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend
Hugs Carolyn