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American-born travel journalist and guidebook author Heather Stimmler-Hall created the Secrets of Paris in 1999 to share the hidden side of the City of Light. Discover what you've been missing:

* Private Customized Tours
* Free Paris Resource Guide
* Calendar of interesting Paris events
* Opinionated Hotel Reviews
* Monthly Secrets of Paris newsletter
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Read more about the Secrets of Paris here

Calendar of Paris Events

June 2-3
This weekend is the Portes Ouvertes at Les Frigos! Check out the artist studios in one of the most famous former squats in Paris. In the 13th (near the Bibliothèque Mitterrand, just off Rue de Tolbiac), ree entry, Saturday (2-10pm) and Sunday (2-8pm).

June 8-10
Nearly 6,000 feathered and sequinned costumes, designed and made in the workshops of the Folies Bergère, one of the world’s most prestigious music-halls, are going on auction at the Palais de la Bourse (Place de la Bourse, 2nd) over three sessions (two catalogued sales on Saturday 9th at 6pm and Sunday 10th at 4pm, one non-catalogued sale of costumes, accessories, notions and supplies). To this magnificent set of lots will be added a hundred posters and programmes recounting a century of revues, original musical scores composed for Folies Bergère revues and drawings by famous fashion illustrator Erté. Public exhibition of the collection from 2-6pm on Friday, 10am-5pm on Saturday, 10am-3pm on Sunday.

June 17
It's time yet again to don your most fashionable hat and a picnic basket and head up to Chantilly for the annual Prix de Diane at the Chantilly Hippodrome. It's Ladies' Day at the races, and the fashions might overshadown the horses, but overall it's a fabulous day out for free (well, if you can get out there by train or car or helicopter). Check out one of my posts from the 2010 event with photos.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CALENDAR

Heather's Lady's Guide to the Sexy City

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Tuesday
Mar132007

Castex Hôtel

DateTuesday, March 13, 2007

Castex Hôtel
5 rue Castex, 4th.
Phone: +33 (0)1 42 72 31 52
Fax: +33 (0)1 42 72 57 91
Metro: Bastille

www.castexhotel.com

I love this hotel. It's centrally located on a quiet street between the Marais and the Seine, just off the Place de la Bastille, and the decor is truly charming. The bright rooms boast dark wood furniture, Louis XIII-style chairs and stools, lovely French floor tiles, and cool recessed lighting. Bathrooms are polished and filled with amenities and toiletries. Some ground floor rooms have direct access to the small patio garden. The lounge has exposed wooden ceiling beams (typical of old mansions in the Marais district), majestic period-style furnishings, a wrought iron chandelier, and a free Internet station. Breakfast is served downstairs in a vaulted stone cellar with tapestried chairs.

So what's the down side? Okay, you'll have to walk a whole block before you find a bakery, and the rooms are not gigantic (another typical feature of Marais hotels).  

40 rooms, Elevator, free Wi-Fi, A/C. Doubles from €95-€148.

This review was originally written for the swell website, Eurocheapo.com.  

AuthorHeather | CommentPost a Comment |
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