MARAIS HEART: 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT IN A 15TH CENTURY BUILDING

We couldn't have been more pleased to rent and stay in this apartment. The listing is quite accurate and in some respects doesn't do the apartment justice. As described, it is in a charming historic building, which despite its age is quite secure (you need a code for the outside door at the street, a second different code for the inside door to the stairwell to the apartment, AND then a key to get into the apartment). The apartment itself has been completely and sensibly renovated, is quite nicely furnised, was scrupulously clean, and has a large full bathroom. It also has a compact but nicely equipped kitchen; I like to cook, and though it has no oven, I found the kitchen to be very well appointed, with two electric burners, a microwave, and decent cooking knives, as well as a dishwasher and a deceptively spacious under-counter fridge. It's exceptionally well located just a short walk to the Rambuteau Metro stop to the northwest, which obviates the need for many a taxi ride; in fact, we like to walk, and found we could make it from the apartment to restaurants on the Left Bank in about 30 minutes. And of course it's only a few blocks east to reach the many restaurants, bars and shops that comprise the heart of the Marais, one of the most interesting and diverting of Paris' arrondissements. Owners Yael and David communicated promptly, arrived when agreed to meet us, and were quite professional and easy to deal with. The only potential downsides (and to us these were almost inconsequential) were that it is on the French 3rd (American 4th floor) and is a walk-up, and that we did very occasionally hear some late-night revelers who were passing by in the street below. But the street noise didn't happen frequently during our stay (which lasted 9 days), and the stairs helped us keep at bay any extra pounds from that great French food and wine (or so we told ourselves). Overall we'd be very happy to rent this lovely little apartment again for our next stay, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others among our friends and relatives who wouldn't have trouble navigating the stairs. Many thanks to our landlords for helping to make this part of our Paris stay so pleasant and so memorable.