Mazarine 1 in the 6th arrondissement

The rue Mazarine is one of the choicest streets in the heart of the Left Bank's historical district.

The warmth and charm of what was already a comfortable apartment in a highly desirable and central neighborhood was recently enhanced by the previous owner, who had the walls and ceiling renovated to draw out the building's original 17th century features. The bland plaster wall was stripped to bare the underlying limestone and massive corner stones. The exposed oak beams were scraped and stained. Even the bar that separates the kitchen from the dining area and working fireplace was built of matching beams.

Located on a narrow, one way, single lane street, the sound of traffic – consisting mainly of art lovers as they move on foot from gallery to gallery during the traditional Thursday night vernissages or 'openings' – is muffled by double-paned windows in the living room. The bedroom, with its two twin beds set side by side, is located on the quiet courtyard. A sofa bed in the living room area allows for extra sleeping arrangements, so the apartment easily sleeps four. The bathroom has a tiled shower.

The rue Mazarine, near the metro station Odéon, is ideally located in one of the oldest areas of central Paris, just across the Seine river from the Louvre museum. There are numerous art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants throughout the neighborhood; yet the street itself is never overwhelmed by the tourist hordes that take over other areas of Paris in the summer. At the end of the street, the Collège de France dome towers over the surrounding buildings, providing a continual display of gilded elegance during the day.

There is no guardian in the building; the digicode at the front door, however, is active 24 hours a day and the apartment itself has a special heavy duty metal plated door with a 3 pronged lock. Leave your Stairmaster at home, this apartment is 3 flights up without an elevator.

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"... this time, I was going until 1 A.M., loading up my car with the following: 2 very large rectangular mirror frames, a lovely porcelain corner sink with its original faucet, an oak cabinet door, a small cheese cabinet door with its wooden grill, more carved marble mantle pieces, a large cast iron skillet, and bits and pieces of carved wood: from molding to cornices."

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