Luxury Homesin Paris

Paris rewards those who know where to look. Beyond the monuments lie private courtyards, couture ateliers and dining rooms that have shaped French cuisine for generations. With a dedicated concierge, the city opens up: privileged visits to the great museums, a table at the most coveted addresses, and the châteaux of Île-de-France within easy reach.

Few cities carry their history as lightly as Paris. Haussmann’s cream-stone boulevards, the gilded bridges over the Seine and the long perspectives from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe form one of the most harmonious urban landscapes in the world, yet daily life here is lived at the scale of the neighbourhood: the corner boulangerie, the Saturday market, the café terrace where an espresso can last an hour.

For the discerning traveller, Paris is above all a city of savoir-faire. The couture houses of the Avenue Montaigne and the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré sit a short walk from the jewellers of the Place Vendôme, while the Left Bank still shelters antique dealers, bookbinders and the literary cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Museums range from the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay to intimate collections such as the Musée Rodin, with its rose garden, or the Musée Jacquemart-André, a nineteenth-century mansion filled with Italian Renaissance and French eighteenth-century art.

The table remains the city’s great pleasure. Paris counts more celebrated restaurants than any other city in France, from historic haute cuisine dining rooms to bistros where the menu changes with the market. Evenings might begin with a private cruise along the Seine as the monuments light up, followed by dinner in the Marais or a performance beneath Chagall’s ceiling at the Palais Garnier.

Beyond the Périphérique, the Île-de-France countryside is unexpectedly close. Versailles lies around half an hour west by car, Chantilly and its racecourse an hour north, and the forest and palace of Fontainebleau a little further south, which makes a château stay on the outskirts an elegant way to combine Parisian days with quiet, spacious evenings.

Our properties

• Chateau Le Petit Versailles: A listed château in 75 hectares of parkland, with gardens by Le Nôtre, forty minutes from Paris

Areas

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés: The Left Bank’s literary heart, with historic cafés, antique dealers, art galleries and some of the city’s finest pastry shops, all a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg.
• Le Marais: A web of medieval lanes and seventeenth-century mansions around the Place des Vosges, now home to independent designers, museums such as the Musée Picasso and a lively restaurant scene.
• The Golden Triangle: Framed by the Avenue Montaigne, the Avenue George V and the Champs-Élysées, this is the city’s couture address, with grand hotels, private galleries and views towards the Eiffel Tower.
• Île Saint-Louis: A quiet island of seventeenth-century townhouses in the middle of the Seine, linked to Notre-Dame by a footbridge, with tree-lined quays perfect for an evening walk.

Getting there

Paris is served by two international airports. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) lies about 25 kilometres north-east of the centre, a chauffeured drive of 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter depending on traffic; Orly (ORY), to the south, is usually 30 to 45 minutes away. Private aircraft land at Paris–Le Bourget (LBG), Europe’s leading business aviation airport, around 30 minutes from the Champs-Élysées. MA VILLA arranges meet-and-greet service and a private chauffeur from the aircraft steps or arrivals hall to your door.

By rail, the Eurostar connects London St Pancras with the Gare du Nord in around two and a quarter hours, and high-speed TGV trains link Paris with Lyon in about two hours, and with Bordeaux and Marseille in roughly two and three hours respectively. Once in the city, a dedicated driver is by far the most comfortable way to move between neighbourhoods; traffic on the Périphérique and the main boulevards can be dense at peak times, so we time transfers accordingly. For guests staying on the outskirts, Versailles is around 30 minutes from central Paris and Chantilly roughly an hour, outside rush hour.

Good to know

Many of the great museums close one day a week: the Louvre on Tuesdays, the Musée d’Orsay and Versailles on Mondays, so plan cultural days accordingly and book timed tickets in advance. Several of the most sought-after restaurants close at weekends or on Sundays and Mondays, and reservations for the best-known tables open weeks ahead. In August many Parisians leave the city and some independent restaurants and boutiques close for part of the month, while Fashion Weeks (late February to early March, late September to early October) and the French Open at Roland-Garros (late May to early June) bring peak demand. Service is included in restaurant bills; leaving a little extra for attentive service is customary but never expected. Dress is elegant rather than formal, though jackets are appreciated in the grand dining rooms.

Frequently asked questions

How do transfers from the airports work?

We arrange private chauffeured transfers from Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Le Bourget, with meet-and-greet service on arrival. Journey times vary with traffic, so your driver tracks your flight and adapts the timing.

What can the concierge arrange during our stay?

Reservations at the most sought-after tables, private museum visits, personal shopping appointments, theatre and opera seats, private chefs at your residence and day trips to Versailles, Chantilly or Champagne.

How far in advance should we book for peak dates?

For Fashion Weeks, Roland-Garros, the festive season and spring weekends, we recommend booking several months ahead. Once your stay is confirmed, our concierge can begin securing reservations that open well before your arrival.

How is privacy handled for high-profile guests?

Our properties are chosen for their discretion. We can arrange private arrivals at Le Bourget, vetted drivers, discreet household staff and, on request, professional security for your stay.

Is it practical to stay outside central Paris?

Yes. A château or estate in the Île-de-France countryside offers space and calm while keeping central Paris within reach: with a dedicated driver, the city is typically 30 minutes to an hour away, depending on location and traffic.

Can you arrange access to places closed to the public?

Many institutions offer private or after-hours visits, guided tours of restricted rooms and special access to ateliers. Availability depends on each institution, so we recommend sharing your wishes early.