L'Orangerie

From the street you enter a courtyard, then up the stairs and onto a very lush lawn with the glorious building at the end. Through a shared entrance find the side-by-side apartments, almost identical in layout: the south-facing living areas have two enormous arched windows flooding the space with sunlight; there are many paintings and sculptures (some by the owner Patricia) and books; steep stairs take you to cosy mezzanine bedrooms with TVs and garden views.

Small kitchens have two induction hobs, a microwave, fridge and kettle, with a few basics in the cupboards. Rustle up lunch and eat at your own table on the lawn or head to some very good restaurants a few minutes away. Fun for two couples to take both apartments and visit Versailles together.

You can easily get here without a car as regular trains run from Paris and take only 12 minutes from Montparnasse station. Feel part of French history in this historic place.