Hôtel Les Dames du Panthéon

The Scene

Hôtel Les Dames du Panthéon's location forbids you to forget the people who made France great. The location alone is enough to impress anyone--it sits right in front of the Pantheon--but it also affords easy access to other landmarks such as the Luxembourg Gardens. Being so close to the Sorbonne in the famed Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the area is filled with dynamic cuisine, shopping, and life.

The Concept

Hôtel Les Dames du Panthéon radiates a distinctly feminine influence that still manages to appeal to both genders in its execution. Inspired by les Cocottes (high-class courtesans of the 19th century), the Signares (French-African women from Senegal), Edith Piaf and Marcel Cerdan, George Sand and Alfred de Musset, Juliette Greco and Miles Davis, and finally Marguierite Duras and her novel l'Amant, designer Valérie Manoïl's vision comes to stunning life in magnificent color, fabric, and detail to each of the 35 rooms. Every floor takes its initial cue from one of these groups and plunges you into a stylized version of their world with original furniture pieces and evocative prints and color. Though not literal, the inspiration is always unmistakable.

The Look

No design detail is overlooked in these rooms and neither is luxury and comfort. Despite the usually-bright colors, the rooms are still an oasis from the hustle and bustle outside the walls and worth exploring in and of themselves. Modern amenities are not left out and the staff goes the extra mile to ensure your stay is memorable. If you're in the mood for romance, book the romantic room with a view and enjoy breakfast in bed plus rose petals, chocolate, and champagne while you gaze out at the Pantheon. Most of the rooms of Hôtel Les Dames du Panthéon feature views of the Pantheon or the rue Clotaire (where the hotel is located), but the worst you can expect is to look onto the interior courtyard.

In Short

Hôtel Les Dames du Panthéon reminds us that sometimes subtlety is called for, but when you face the Pantheon you had best be able to stand up to its grandeur. This hotel is as unforgettable as the women who inspired it; anyone who admires (French) women and evocative design would be remiss to pass up this diamond.