Recent renovation by Parisian designer Laura Gonzalez the latest in a line of redesigns to keep five-star townhouse hotel in the moment on the Left Bank
* See for yourself with special anniversary offer through March 2020 *
Hotels come and go, rise and fall, redesign and renovate, innovate and settle in. Those that endure not years but for decades offer something timeless that keeps guests in comfort and coming back for more. On the Left Bank of Paris, the five-star Relais Christine is now celebrating 40 years of welcoming travelers to the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés with a timeless air of elegance that, whatever the moment, always seems to belong.
Opened in 1979, Relais Christine occupies a 17th-century townhouse built upon the vestiges of an Abbey that was founded in 1231. The hotel has long been among the best kept secrets on the Left Bank, a favorite address of artists and lovers of Paris whose loyalty has endured even as the property has continually updated its design, style, and guest experience with the times.
“Relais Christine’s style evolved confidently. We went through a toiles de Jouy period, then squares and stripes, and then plainer fabrics in beige, grey, and blue,” recalls Jean-Luc Chomat, Directeur Général of Relais Christine, who joined the family-owned property on Rue Christine in 2002 and is well acquainted with its design history. “We’ve been loyal to Pierre Frey fabrics all along. Naturally we are committed to quintessential French decoration. Through four decades of style evolution, the hotel remained fashionable with its own sense of elegance and service to match.”
Indeed, the 2000s brought a fresh feel to the enduring elegance of Relais Christine, as furniture was modernized, and armchairs and sofas were updated. In 2003, the hotel added a small spa and fitness area beneath the vaults of the Abbey.
Evolving French Style with the Times
Finally, throughout 2017, Parisian decorator Laura Gonzalez was tapped to transform Relais Christine into a cocoon of comfort and refinement befitting the times. A graduate of the National School D’architecture Paris-Malaquais and veteran of Pravda Arkitect, Gonzalez imagined the renovation project as a whole: From courtyard to trims, staircase to lounges, guest rooms to gardens.
Following her obsession with “the DNA of the place,” Gonzalez transformed Relais Christine into a precious setting evoking classic French style, and design touches from other cultures beyond. Each of the hotel’s 48 guest rooms and suites was individually redesigned with furniture gathered by Gonzalez from antiquaries and collectors combined to reflect various periods of classic French style and the designer’s own idea of modernity.
Throughout the ground floor, lounges were updated through a mix of inspirations, as Gonzalez draped settings in what she calls her “expertly twisted classical style,” with large armchairs and comfortable sofas, Chinese tapestries, found and made-to-measure furniture, and new paintings and drawings.
The hotel’s spa was similarly redesigned by Gonzalez and expanded beneath its ancient vaulted ceilings. After teaming with various product lines over the years, the space was rebranded as Spa Guerlain through a new partnership with renowned Parisian skincare brand Maison Guerlain.
Gonzalez drew inspiration for the new Spa from its historic setting as well as the luxurious world of its partner skincare line, decorating the space in the finest natural materials and sensual textures, with details including panoramic wallpaper by Ananbô, a resting lounge in blue and gold, wooden floors and trim, and subtle illumination from wall-mounted lighting with shades by Dedar for Hermès.
Timeless French elegance isn’t the only thing to celebrate at Relais Christine. Click-heeled service is personalized to every guest, and the hotel’s flowered garden provides privacy for relaxation surrounded by the bustle of Paris. As guests also quickly discover, everything in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is within easy walking distance of the property, with destinations through maybe the most classically Parisian neighborhood including highlights of local culture and history, abundant art galleries, chic boutiques, and museums, and too many cafés and restaurants to count.
Special Anniversary Offer
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Relais Christine with a special offer bookable until February 28, 2020 only for a stay of 3 nights or more including buffet breakfast for two daily, plus Champagne and an exclusive present. Rates start at €340 depending on dates for stays from November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
For more information or reservations, please contact Relais Christine at
+33-1-40-51-60-80, or email contact@relais-christine.com or visit www.relais-christine.com.
