Properties / Hotels

The Peninsula Paris to open August 1

After several months of renovation and construction, the Peninsula Paris will open on August 1.

Jul 04, 2014 | By AFPRelaxnews

Located just steps away from Paris’s Arc de Triomphe monument, a palace which served as a backdrop to the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that put an end to the Vietnam War has been restored to its former glory.

Peninsula Hotel Paris

After six years of planning, design, and construction, the centuries-old palace in the 16th arrondissement has been reworked to become The Peninsula Paris, an opulent 200-room hotel that features the expert handiwork of 900 French artists and craftsmen who painted frescoes by hand, installed marble walls and mosaic tiles and restored aging wood work.

To call the hotel gold-gilded is no exaggeration: In total, 20,000 pieces of gold leaf were used to cover the property.

The Peninsula Paris lobby

Originally opened as a grand hotel in 1908, the building was occupied then sold during WWII, only to later became a government building managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 2009.

peninsula paris history

In what’s now Le Bar Kléber, American diplomat Henry Kissinger helped negotiate the Paris Peace Accords which would bring the Vietnam War to a close.

Other claims to fame: In 1928, hotel guest George Gershwin would write his musical piece “An American in Paris,” and the hotel would also become the headquarters of UNESCO in 1946.

The Peninsula Paris hotel lobby

While the hotel pays homage to its heritage with painstaking restoration efforts that went so far as to research original paint colors, rooms are equipped with the conveniences of modern technology, including in-room tablets for controlling everything from lighting to room temperature.

Marble floors, high ceilings and elegant drapery set the tone in the lobby, which is furnished in a modern style. Guests can walk into the hotel through this entrance on the Avenue Kléber in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.

The Peninsula Paris entrance

Those arriving by car will enter the hotel directly through the other entrance on the Avenue des Portugais, where they will find an enormous chandelier that was custom-made by the prestigious Lasvit workshop.

The hand-blown work of art is adorned with several leaf-shaped crystal pendants. A stone installation from Bhutan completes the ensemble.

The Peninsula Paris deluxe room

Elegance will be the byword for the decoration of the hotel’s 200 rooms. Grey and beige tones, high ceilings, marble-lined bathrooms and sophisticated lighting will contribute to an ambiance of refinement. Works of contemporary art by international artists will adorn the walls.

Renovations at the Peninsula Paris

Five of the 34 suites will have private rooftop terraces with fantastic views over the city.

The Peninsula Paris suite

Foodies will have access to gourmet dishes at all hours thanks to the hotel’s six restaurants, most of which will serve French cuisine and one of which, the Lili, will feature Chinese dishes.

The Peninsula Paris restaurant

At L’Oiseau Blanc, diners seated on the terrace will enjoy a 360° view of Paris during their meals.

Peninsula Paris terrace

Guests at the Peninsula Paris can take advantage of a spa with treatments from the luxury brand ESPA, as well as a gym and indoor pool.

The Peninsula Paris spa

Among other high-end services, the hotel will also give guests the opportunity to rent a green Rolls-Royce Phantom II limousine dating from 1934 or two MINI Clubman cars.

Peninsula Edition MINI Cooper Clubman

Average nightly rates start at €1,095. Slated to open on August 1, the Peninsula Paris will be the hotel group’s first property in Europe.

The facade of the Peninsula Paris

A new hotel is slated to open in London at a later date.


 
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