As we commenced the long walk down the Champs-Élysées, from the picturesque Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, it suddenly dawned on us that we had not taken a major point into consideration – one member of our party was a fashionista who simply could not refrain from perusing the vast array of boutique outlets and department stores that lined the illustrious boulevard.  It is suffice to say we had to make a hasty revision to our 11am check in time at the hotel.
 
The Champs-Élysées is lined with some of the most luxurious brands in the world, such as Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and Guerlain; and is overlooked by the magnificent Arc de Triomphe.  This resplendent structure was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon in 1806 at the peak of his fortunes, to honour those who fought and died for France in the Napoleonic Wars.  It is this very combination of glamour and historical importance that has made the famous stretch of road one of the most sought after addresses in all of Paris.  Situated deep in the heart of the 8th District, just off the Champs-Élysées on Rue de Berri, Hotel Lancaster combines the very same level of history and prestige. 
 
The building which today houses this exclusive and intimate five-star boutique hotel was originally built in 1889 by Santiago Drake del Castillo, a descendant of Spanish nobility.  He acquired the premises 10 years earlier from the Prince and Princess de Hennin, and used it as a private townhouse.  In 1925, the property was sold to Swiss hotelier Emile Wolf who began a process of enlargement and total transformation; the four-floor townhouse became an eight floor luxury hotel. 
 
During this period of conversion, which lasted until 1930, Wolf and his executive housekeeper, a daughter of a highly reputed antiques dealer, scoured the auction houses of Paris in search of furniture, clocks, paintings, chandeliers and other such antique furnishings in order to fill the hotel with beautiful history.  Today, the wealth of Louis XV and XVI furniture as well as the exquisite attention to décor and detail adds an inimitable air of Parisian chic to the hotel.
 
Hours later than we initially planned, we finally arrived to check in and after a warm welcome we were immediately accompanied to the suite via a tour of the hotel.  The delightfully intimate La Table du Lancaster had already lured us in with its mouthwatering scent, crafted by Michelin star chef Julien Roucheteau.  Likewise, the cosy and contemporary Bar struck us as the perfect place to wind down whilst enjoying a warm and refined atmosphere over a cosmopolitan or a lifako – an original Hotel Lancaster specialty cocktail – after a long day of sightseeing. 
 
The newly decorated Lancaster hotel combines classic materials with contemporary touches, to create an elegant yet comfortable feel that is inspired by the Art Deco designs of the 1920s and 1930s.  The corridors are lined with specially commissioned bronze-coloured carpets with black borders, as designer Tai-Ping Maison wanted to create the illusion of a path of golden sand leading from one room to the next.  The finishing touch sees a fresh flower, cut from the hotel’s garden, adorning the door of each guest room.  Even before we had reached the bedroom, we had become over-awed by the finesse which had gone into the overall presentation. 
 
Finally, we checked into our prestigious Emile Wolf Suite – a room so refined they named it after the hotel’s much celebrated founder.  Decorated in delicate shades of lavender and purple, this romantic suite is steeped in elegance and a sense of true European decadence.  Covering approximately 70sqm, this luxurious space is divided into a spacious bedroom and a private lounge, with a balcony overlooking the Zen-inspired interior garden courtyard and the splendid Sacre Coeur Basilica in the distance.  Whether you wish to draw creative inspiration from the fascinating artworks displayed in the private lounge, or relax and revitalise ready for another day of sightseeing, the perfect environment has been masterfully created to cater for all occasions, making it an appropriate abode for the most discerning of guests. 
 
Prices start from €450 per night.  For more information please visit www.hotel-lancaster.com

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