The first Art Déco hotel in Paris is in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près and close to the famous department store “Au Bon Marché”. It was, in fact originally built for the clients of the place in 1910 by architect Charles Louis Boileau (1837-1914). It is also in the vicinity of Saint-Sulpice church so visited after the film “Da Vinci Code”. This prestigious hotel saw many artists like Matisse, Picasso, André Gide or Saint-Exupéry. Albert Cohen wrote his “Belle du Seigneur” in the Lutetia. General de Gaulle spent his wedding night in this ornate “Belle Epoque” palace.

Just before the occupation of Paris by the German Forces during World War II, the hotel was used to temporarily house displaced Jewish refugees from France and Europe trying to escape the Nazi inferno. Then Paris fell, the Germans intelligence service, the Abwehr, occupied the buildings and committed tortures. Once Paris was liberated, the hotel became a center to lodge survivors from concentration camps. The “Lady of Isieu”, Sabine Zlatin installed the welcome center where families tried to find their relatives held prisoners by the Nazis.

The only palace on the Left Bank of the Seine offers 230 rooms with Art Déco period furniture, 60 suites and junior suites. Some rooms have a view on the Eiffel Tower and you cannot miss the statue of Gustave Eiffel in the lobby. The Lutetia Hotel was redecorated by Sonia Rykiel in 1985 and Contemporary Art works by Arman and César are presented. “The Paris” is the gastronomic restaurant. The “Brasserie Lutetia” is famed for seafood and the bar is known for its jazz evenings.

A memorial plate to the victims of Nazism can be seen on the façade of this prestigious place for memory located 45 Boulevard Raspail.

Hôtel Lutetia in the Art Déco style, Paris (France).

Hôtel Lutetia at night, Paris.