Chateau de Villette

A lot of movie fans travel to see the filming site of their favorite flick. And Chateau de Villette is no exception. Many fans of The Da Vinci Code movie starring Tom Hanks have visited this 185-acre estate about 35 minutes northwest of Paris. It was featured as Sir Leigh Teabing’s home. (Teabing was played by Ian McKellan.)

And it’s for sale for 39 million dollars !

The main house has eleven bedrooms and bathrooms (with 18 beds and 17 baths total), all of which were remodeled within the last 10 years, according to public information. The Chateau was designed by architect Francois Mansart in 1668 for Louis XIV’s Venetian ambassador. The gardens were designed by Le Notre and spread out behind the home.

Villette is considered on of the most significant historical chateaux in France. It was designed around the same time as Versailles, earning it the nickname “Le Petite Versailles.” The dining room features an original 17th-century carved stone buffet and the limestone entry hall harkens back to the 17th century as well. The gourmet kitchen was installed in 2001. It also has two service kitchens and a banquet room.

And if that’s not enough, it has a gym, billiard room, library, music salon, and a grand staircase. The property also boasts a chapel and reception room for hosting weddings, a greenhouse, and horse stables. Many more modern amenities have been added to the property as well: wireless internet, a swimming pool, a tennis court. It basically has just about everything you could want. Including plenty of privacy. Gee, why didn’t Brad and Angelina just buy it instead of renting someplace else?

Eiffel Tower from Hotel George V

Paris: the city of light, of romance, of cliches. Paris boasts arguably the world’s best art galleries and museums - but for the dedicated shopper Paris has got to be high on their luxury destination list and not for the museums!

Whether your shopping list is haute couture, exotic chocolates, wine, unique antiques or art pieces Paris will have it. Paris has been doing fantastic food, magnificent hotels and really invented luxury shopping why settle for second best? And if Gautier, Yves St Laurent and Chanel are on your shopping list why not come to their home - Paris.

For a short break any time of the year three or four days of being based in one Paris’s best hotels such as the magnificent 5-star Hotel George V, central to the Champs Elysees shopping and just a quick stroll the cavernous Louis Vuitton store, could be just the luxury shopping break you need.

Or maybe check in to the Hotel Bristol which is popular where the Saturday Fashion High Tea is an interesting combination of cakes and pastries accompanied by a haut couture catwalk show from some of the big name fashion houses such as Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Lanvin, Hermes, Gaultier, Laroche and Versace.

The great shopping destination stores are well known: the designer stores on the Champs Elysees and the luxury department store Printemps. Printemps has now established a personalized shopping service - which given that the store now flows over three buildings seems like a good way to get started.

Paris Passage

Photo Credit: Todd Mecklam

Paris shopping is not all about the large stores on the Champs Elysees. The back streets of Paris have many gems: the trick is finding them, especially if your French is rusty. Although guidebooks usually have extensive listings in the “shopping” section, as anywhere the locals know the best spots. With this mind expatriot American Rebecca Mangiant launched her boutique shopping guide service Chic Shopping Paris.

According to Rebecca :

Our expert bilingual guides do not work on commission & can therefore offer you objective, unbiased advice. Our goal is to help you use your time in Paris wisely, whether it’s your first time here or your fifth. Rather than offer tours on a variety of topics, we organize shopping tours exclusively, focusing all of our attention on discovering new shops & trends for your benefit. Chic Shopping Paris’ private guided tours are devoted to helping you take back “Paris in your bag.”

Chic Shopping Paris skips the guidebook’s listing of restaurants, museums and shops - instead she takes you to the hidden corners of Paris with your own bilingual guide and personal shopper. What better introduction to Paris shopping?