Day 1 of our retreat ends near the Louvre, so you can either run in there before it closes at 6PM or take your time to enjoy the whimsical world of Antoine St. Exupéry’s beloved Little Prince. On display are hundreds of pieces related to the book and its author, including drawings and the original manuscript.
Open until 8PM on Saturdays; cost €14
Musée des Arts Décoratifs 107, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris Métro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, line 1
We’re spending Day 2 of the retreat in our neighborhood, with the official program ending with a write-in at Le Pure café. From there, it’s a 20-minute stroll to the Atelier des Lumières, where one ticket allows you to escape into two amazing worlds: Cezanne, the Lights of Provence and Kandinsky, the Odyssey of Abstraction.
Open until 7PM on Sundays; cost €16
Atelier des Lumières 38, rue Saint-Maur 75011 Paris Métro: Rue Saint-Maur, line 3
Our retreats are run for women by women, and Day 3 wraps up at La Terrasse de Madame, two steps from the Luxembourg Museum’s fabulous exhibition spotlighting the bold women of the 1920s art world. Paintings, films, photos, sculptures and more show how artists such as Tamara de Lempicka and Sonia Delauney forged their own paths.
Before you head in to the museum, pick up a sweet treat or indulge in the world-famous hot chocolate at the gorgeous Mademoiselle Angelina in the museum’s courtyard (only open until 5PM).
Museum open until 10PM on Mondays; cost €13
Musée du Luxembourg 19, rue de Vaugirard 75006, Paris Métro: Saint-Sulpice, line 4
Day 4 is all about invoking sensuality in your writing, so it only makes sense that—between our visit to the Musée Rodin and a lush cocktail at the Bar Botanique—we make our way along a market street overflowing with delicious sights and tastes.
There’ll be time to pick up treats at outlets of Mariage Frères, Ladurée, À la Mère de la Famille, but don’t forget the many local traiteurs and classic cafés. Then there are florists, a bookstore, organic skincare and cosmetics at Mademoiselle Bio, and—our favorite—Famille Mary, which sells everything honey: beauty and health products, cakes, bonbons, jams, teas, and aaaall the honeys you could ever need!
Most stores open until 7 – 8PM on Tuesdays
Rue Cler 75007, Paris Métro: La Tour-Maubourg, line 8
La Maison de Victor Hugo
Wednesday, June 8th
We started our retreat with a pétanque game in the Arènes de Lutece, so it’s fitting that on our last day we visit the house of the man who led the campaign against the arena’s destruction: Victor Hugo.
Of course, Hugo is known for much more than that, as you’ll discover in the apartment he rented between 1832 and 1848. His former home is arranged to take the visitor through the various stages of Hugo’s life. Not only do you get insight into his writing, but you get to look out onto the stunning Place des Vosges.
Open until 6PM on Wednesdays; free
Maison de Victor Hugo 6, place des Vosges 75004 Paris Métro: St Paul, line 1
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