A LITERARY HIDEAWAY IN THE HEART OF MONTMARTRE

A Charming Parisian address.

Perched on a hill overlooking Paris, Montmartre is a charming village with artistic heritage. Once home to Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, this former village has retained much of its old-world character. Away from the crowds around Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre has a more local side, with independent boutiques and neighbourhood bistros. On picturesque Rue Tholozé, just a short walk from the shops and cafés of Rue des Abbesses, Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé is a boutique hotel with 39 rooms and apartments.

Understated from the outside, but full of character, the hotel takes its name from French novelist Marcel Aymé, who spent more than forty years living in Montmartre. His connection to the neighbourhood is still celebrated today, with Le Passe-Muraille, the sculpture of a man emerging from a wall, inspired by one of his most famous stories. A familiar face in Montmartre during his lifetime, the hotel pays tribute to the writer and his imagination, with literary references woven throughout.

The location has a particularly interesting connection to Aymé’s writing. It stands between Rue Tholozé and Rue Durantin, two streets that feature in one of his short stories. Part of the Hôtels Littéraires collection, it takes inspiration from the novelist’s life and work, with original artwork, photography and thoughtful design details throughout.

The lobby is like a cozy Parisian living room than a traditional hotel reception. There are some unexpected design details too, including a large portrait of Marcel Aymé appearing to emerge through the white brick wall behind reception. Inspired by his famous story Le Passe-Muraille, the same playful idea continues onto the reception desk, where the letters of his name appear to be disappearing.

The attention to detail continues beyond reception. A glass staircase leads down towards the breakfast rooms, with steel silhouettes of Marcel Aymé and his cat Alphonse by sculptor Jean-Claude Sadoine. Even the flooring changes as you descend, from patterned carpet to a more natural finish, a subtle reference to the French countryside where the writer spent his childhood.

There is also a collection of original watercolours by Jean Aubertin and lithographs, sculptures and photographs of Aymé by celebrated French photographer Izis, reproduced from the archives of Paris Match. These black-and-white portraits offer a glimpse of the writer and the Montmartre he knew.

The hotel’s impressive collection of more than 500 books in the lobby and guest rooms includes rare first editions and beautifully bound copies of Aymé’s work.

The literary design continues upstairs, where each floor is dedicated to a different aspect of Aymé’s life and writing. Themes range from Montmartre and Paris to the French countryside of Franche-Comté, his childhood stories, magical realism and the friends who formed part of his creative circle.

Each of the 39 rooms and apartments is individually named after one of his novels, short stories, characters or friends, rather than being identified by a number alone.

The rooms themselves are simple but comfortable, with contemporary furnishings and decorative details that give them an individual look. One of the most distinctive features is the upholstered headboard, designed with woven watercolour illustrations inspired by the writer’s stories. Original watercolours by Jean Aubertin, specially commissioned for the hotel, are displayed in the rooms, alongside framed photographs, quotations and small collections of artwork above the desks.

Other subtle details include wall lights shaped like drops of ink and partially faded lettering on the curtains and chairs, continuing the theme introduced at reception.

We stayed in a Deluxe Room on the fifth floor, which is dedicated to Aymé’s friends and contemporaries, including the writers and artists who were part of his life in Montmartre. The room was simple but comfortable, with a solid bed.

The real highlight, however, was the view. From one side we could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance, while the other looked towards one of Montmartre’s historic windmills. It was a lovely surprise to have such different Parisian landmarks.

Breakfast is served downstairs in two intimate dining spaces, where the interiors take a more colourful and playful turn. Inspired by Aymé’s childhood in the French countryside, the design draws on the farms, forests and animals that later appeared in his stories.

One room features patterned wallpaper, a chicken-wire-fronted sideboard and five watercolours by Jean Aubertin illustrating Les Contes du chat perché. There is also a reproduction of a drawing Aymé made of his family’s farm, La Tuilerie, when he was just 13 years old.

In the adjoining dining room, forest-patterned wallpaper is paired with a large wall installation featuring illustrated pages from La Vouivre. A green horse sculpture made from paper by local artist Virginie Andrieu adds another unexpected detail, referencing Aymé’s novel La Jument verte.

Breakfast itself is relaxed and informal, with a selection of sweet and savoury options. It is a convenient way to start the day, although we did head straight to Noir.

Rue Tholozé is one of Montmartre’s most photogenic streets, with the historic Moulin Radet windmill nearby. Sacré-Cœur and Place du Tertre are also close, and with all the steep hills, having the hotel to return to for a quick break was a definite plus.

We spent much of our time exploring the neighbourhood, stopping for multiple coffees, browsing independent boutiques and discovering places to eat. Breizh Café is a must for Breton galettes and crêpes, Pain Pain for pastries and The Beans on Fire for specialty coffee. There’s also Bachir, the Lebanese ice cream shop we adore from Dubai, and La Maison Rose, the famous pink restaurant that is worth stopping by for a photograph, even if you aren’t eating there. We also discovered a small ceramics studio on our street, where we picked up souvenirs to take home.

With comfortable rooms, warm hospitality and an excellent location, Hôtel Littéraire Marcel Aymé is a charming boutique address in Montmartre. You don’t need to be familiar with the writer to appreciate the hotel, but the references to his life and work give it a character that feels distinctly Parisian.