Le bon Marche is
surrounded by attractive boutique-style Parisian hotels. Upmarket options
include the grand Hotel Lutetia and Hotel Le Placide, which both have stylish
modern rooms and are only a few minutes’ walk from Le bon Marche. If you have a
lower budget, you could plump for Hotel de Saint Germain or De Nevers
Saint-Germain, which both offer more affordable rates. You can find chain
hotels in this area too, such as Holiday Inn Paris – Saint Germain des Pres,
which offers quality accommodation with a standard guarantee. Sumptuous
accommodation is offered by Le Saint Gregoire, which is a short distance from
Le bon Marche.
Shopaholics love to
come and stay in hotels close to Le Bon Marche. If you’re visiting France and
you love to shop, then the chances are you’ll be visiting Le bon Marche; you
might even be looking for a hotel near Le bon Marche. This famous shop is located
at 24 rue de Sevres, having been founded in 1852 by Aristide Boucicaut. Le bon
Marche is generally accepted as the first department store in the world, and is
certainly the most chic in Paris. At one time it sold mostly linens, table
settings, and a variety of other household items. Today it is the place to go
for fashionable, upscale clothing, perfume, cosmetics, and accessories. Here
you will find such leading labels as Burberry, Comme des Garcons, Dries van
Noten, and Sonia Rykiel. Menswear includes designs by Zenga, Yves Saint
Laurent, and Paul Smith. French brand names include Athe, Mont St. Michel,
Zadig & Voltaire, Manoush, Isabel Marant’s Etoile line, and Madame of
Paris.
Le bon Marche began
life as a small shop in 1838, which later developed into a larger scale
operation. After quickly becoming a department store, larger premises were
required to match the potential of Le bon Marche. A new building was
subsequently constructed by Louis Auguste Boileau in 1867. Le bon Marche was
commissioned to make the official Olympic flag for the 1916 Summer Olympics.
The flag was first flown in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Though many prestigious brands appear in the store, it remains a fascinating
place to browse without purchasing. Le bon Marche is a favourite with
celebrities, and can therefore be useful for a bit of star gazing. There is also
an excellent café on the premises. Right next door is La Grande Epicerie, which
is the haute couture of grocery stores. There you can buy gourmet jams,
nougats, olive oil, and other food items that make great gifts to take home.