Le Flâneur

There's something really rather palatial about this apartment found in a building dating back to the eighteenth century. The living room benefits from ceilings over four metres high and floor-to-ceiling French windows, which make the space feel bright and inviting as well as offering a lovely view of the Palais Royal gardens. The antique furnishings, glass-fronted bookshelves fit for the Bibliotheque Nacional and ornate bed frame pay homage to the city's regal past, as does the patterned wallpaper and ochre tones throughout. Comparatively, the gleamingly white kitchen and bathroom are a little less ornamental and a lot more functional, while the cinema screen is perfect for cosy nights in. What's more, the location is superb for seeing the flashier side of Paris. The home sits right on the Palais-Royal gardens, while the Louvre is just over five minutes' walk.

Home truths:
*There's no parking space with this property, but Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre station is only four minutes' walk away
*The building has no lift, and although the apartment itself is step-free, it's on the second floor so you'll have to climb some stairs for access
*Additional guests may be permitted by request, one sofa can be slept on and an air mattress is available – ask your host for more details
*This is an apartment in a communal building so access is through a shared hallway
*TV is in the form of a pull-down cinema screen, projector and huge DVD library