For Sale: The Magic Steps of Quintessential Paris

Quintessential Paris. This is it. That’s why Woody Allen chose this particular spot in his film Midnight in Paris as the “magic steps”—where Gil (played by Owen Wilson) sat one evening and a car pulls up. A group of party goers in 1920s clothing invite him to join them and he hops in. Each time he returns to this spot, something magical happens to him.

And that’s what can happen to you when you live in this very spot…and you can.

This spot in Paris is right at the corner of Place du Panthéon, with views overlooking the Place, the Panthéon and the rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève that snakes down the hill. It’s literally a few minutes by foot to the Jardin du Luxembourg, close to the lively shopping street of rue Mouffetard, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Notre Dame…plus there’s no shortage of restaurants, boutiques, and cafés within a stone’s throw. The RER B that takes you to either Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airport is less than 10 minutes down hill. It also happens to be in the ultra-desirable Parisian school district of Lycée Henri IV…if that is important to you.

For sale at 49, rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Place du Panthéon, 5th Arrondissement…this is a spacious studio (with the potential to become two rooms). The “Loi Carrez” is 32.50 m2 (350 sq. ft., official habitable space), but the total surface area is larger at 36.01m2 (388 sq. ft.). It’s on the third and top floor with stunning views that are near to impossible to achieve in Paris! The apartment comes with a “cave” (cellar, 3.28m2). The underground parking space has access via an elevator to level-2—parking can be sold with the apartment.

This very special apartment at the top of rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève has three large windows facing west with a beautiful view of those magic steps—the Church of Saint Etienne du Mont, just off the left side of Le Panthéon and the Place du Panthéon. (This church contains the shrine of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, and other illustrious Parisians are buried here.) The building is centuries old, but perfectly refurbished to contemporary standards.

The third-floor walk-up is easy (it’s the top floor, too)—just 45 spiraling stairs around a highly unusual twisted wooden pole, showing off its true age of about 350 years. The apartment can easily be converted to a one-bedroom if that suits you. Don’t be surprised that as an estate property, the kitchen and bath both need an update, but it will be well worth it, considering how unusual it is to find such a jewel in this location, with such important amenities as a cellar and very rare-to-find parking. (We have the team you need for the renovation!)

Some furnishings remain with the apartment—two antique wooden dressers, an antique round wooden table and a semi-round table, a bench, small couch/bed, glass shelving unit, eight antique chairs, and a rug. And if you don’t want them, then toss them! But that’s entirely up to you to decide!

The price has been lowered to 597,000€ because we just learned that we can sell the apartment without the parking. This includes the agency fee (paid by the buyer). The parking will be sold for an additional 46,500€. The owner of the parking can rent it or always sell it—it is getting more valuable every minute as parking spots dry up in the City of Light! Annual ownership costs include the building fees estimated at 2375€ (in 2021) per year and property tax estimated at 781€ per year. Transportation in the immediate vicinity includes two Métro lines (Maubert-Mutualité #10, Jussieu #7 and #10, Place Monge #7), the RER B and no shortage of bus lines (#21, #24, #27, #47, #75, #84, #89, so you have all of Paris at your toes.

Don’t let this unique opportunity slip through your fingers! For more information or to make an offer, visit the apartment’s listing on our site, or contact our agent by email or call +33 7 67 97 74 87.

A la prochaine…