11 Rue des écoles, 75005 Paris

Familia Hotel

Name: Familia Hotel
Address: 11 Rue des écoles, Paris, 75005, FR
Price range: From 156 EUR
Rating: 8.5

Hotel 2-star in Paris

Presentation

Familia Hôtel in the Latin Quarter: location, metro and RER access from the 5th arrondissement

Located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, in the heart of the Latin Quarter, Familia Hôtel sits six hundred metres on foot from Notre-Dame cathedral and a few minutes' walk from the Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. The Seine and its bouquinistes are two streets to the north, while the Saint-Michel fountains, Boulevard Saint-Germain and its café terraces, along with the cobbled lanes lined with bookshops and art-house cinemas, make up the hotel's immediate surroundings. The Jardin du Luxembourg is reachable in around fifteen minutes on foot heading west. For public transport, Maubert-Mutualité metro station (line 10) is approximately three minutes' walk away, and the Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame RER station is accessible in under ten minutes, offering a direct connection to Gare du Nord and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, some twenty kilometres away.

Haussmann building dating from 1865: architecture, frescoes and room décor at Familia Hôtel

Built in 1865 in the Haussmann style, Familia Hôtel features balconies on the second, fifth and sixth floors. The property stands out for its remarkable artistic work: an artist trained at the École des Beaux-Arts has painted sepia frescoes on numerous walls, depicting the historic monuments and iconic landmarks of Paris. Rooms overlooking the courtyard are graced with a wall fresco representing great Impressionist painters, among them Sisley and Van Gogh. The furniture was selected by craftspeople specialising in French traditions: wood panelling, exposed beams in certain rooms, large dark-wood wardrobes, restful tones and understated fabrics lend the whole a warm atmosphere. Some rooms are fitted with a four-poster bed for travellers seeking an extra touch of romance. Please note: rooms are of modest size, as is often the case in Parisian buildings of this era, and the balconies, though charming, are narrow. It is advisable to check the room category at the time of booking.

Rooms with balcony and Notre-Dame view, and available configurations: singles, doubles, twins and triples

The hotel offers thirty rooms spread across several floors and available in a number of configurations: single rooms, double rooms with a large bed, superior double rooms with a balcony, twin rooms with two separate beds, and triple rooms accommodating up to three guests with a double bed and a single bed. Eight rooms have a balcony equipped with a table and chairs, located on the second, fifth and sixth floors; some offer a direct view of Notre-Dame cathedral and the rooftops of Paris. Each room is air-conditioned and equipped with a flat-screen television, free Wi-Fi, a desk area, a hairdryer and a safe. En suite bathrooms feature either a shower or a bathtub depending on the room; the facilities are functional and well maintained, without any pretension to contemporary luxury.

Breakfast, 24-hour reception and services available at Familia Hôtel

A French breakfast is served every morning in the hotel's lounge, a warm room adorned with wall tapestries and a mahogany bookcase, bathed in natural light. It consists of croissants, pastries and coffee, served at small stylish side tables. Reception is open twenty-four hours a day, allowing guests to arrive or depart at any time without restriction. A concierge service is available to arrange tours, book tickets for shows or museums, and provide practical advice about the city; tourist brochures are also available at the front desk. The hotel is furthermore equipped with a lift, a luggage storage facility and a vending machine for drinks and snacks. A self-service car park is available nearby at an additional charge.

Museums and monuments within walking distance of the Latin Quarter: the Louvre, Cluny, the Marais, the Catacombs and Centre Pompidou

The Latin Quarter is a particularly well-placed starting point for exploring Paris on foot. The Musée National du Moyen Âge — formerly the Musée de Cluny, famous for its The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries — is just a few minutes from the hotel. The Louvre is reachable in approximately two kilometres, by following the banks of the Seine. Centre Pompidou, less than two kilometres away, is home to one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe; its building with its colourful façade offers a remarkable panoramic view over Paris from its upper levels, and its temporary exhibitions are regularly highly anticipated. The Marais, reachable in around twenty minutes on foot heading north-east, is home to the Musée Picasso, the Musée Carnavalet devoted to the history of Paris, and the Place des Vosges. The Catacombs of Paris, located approximately two kilometres to the south, offer a chance to discover the former quarries converted into an ossuary in the eighteenth century. Opéra Garnier, a little over three kilometres away, is accessible by metro from Maubert-Mutualité in a few stops; in addition to the opera and ballet performances of the season — for which the concierge can assist with ticket reservations — a visit to the building itself, with its grand staircase, gilded salons and ceiling painted by Marc Chagall, is an experience in its own right.

Sainte-Chapelle, Île de la Cité and Jardin des Plantes: visits less than one kilometre from Familia Hôtel

Sainte-Chapelle, on the Île de la Cité, can be reached on foot from Familia Hôtel in around ten minutes. Its thirteenth-century stained-glass windows are among the finest examples of medieval stained glass in the world. Close by, the Conciergerie and the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation complete a historically rich walk on the Île de la Cité. Less than one kilometre to the east of the hotel, the Jardin des Plantes — a historic botanical garden founded in the seventeenth century — is home to the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle as well as several permanent galleries, including the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, which is particularly popular with families.

A selection of activities and discoveries near this hotel

Rue Mouffetard, about ten minutes' walk away, comes to life from early morning with its open-air market, open Tuesday to Sunday until 2pm. Cheese sellers, greengrocers and butchers rub shoulders in a Parisian village atmosphere. The best time to go is between 9am and 11am, when the stalls are at their fullest and the street is still peaceful.
The Arènes de Lutèce, reachable on foot in around ten minutes from the hotel via rue Monge, are one of only two surviving Gallo-Roman remains still visible in Paris. This second-century amphitheatre could hold up to 17,000 spectators. Entry is entirely free, all year round.
The Musée de Cluny, dedicated to the Middle Ages and located a few minutes' walk from the hotel, houses one of the richest medieval collections in Europe, including the famous The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. The building itself, constructed on the remains of Gallo-Roman baths, is worth a visit for its exceptional architecture.
The Grande Mosquée de Paris, a quarter of an hour's walk to the south-east, can be visited for a modest fee and offers an unexpected change of scenery with its patio, gardens and mosaic décor. Its adjoining tearoom, open to the public, is a popular spot for a midday break.
Shakespeare and Company bookshop, on the Left Bank just steps from Pont Saint-Michel, is an English-language literary institution founded in 1951. Its labyrinthine shelves, reading nooks and author evenings make it an unmissable stop for book lovers, ten minutes' walk from the hotel.
Le Caveau de la Huchette, on rue de la Huchette just off Place Saint-Michel, is one of the oldest jazz clubs in Paris. Set in a vaulted fifteenth-century cellar, it hosts jazz and swing concerts every evening in a unique atmosphere. Doors generally open around 9:30pm.

A summary of some positive reviews found online

The location is hard to beat in this price range in Paris. Notre-Dame is just a few minutes' walk away, the metro is right on the doorstep, and you find yourself immediately in the historic heart of the Latin Quarter the moment you step out of the hotel. Many Parisian hotels promise a central location; this one truly delivers.
The staff were remarkably kind and attentive throughout the stay. Whether recommending walks, helping to organise visits or simply giving directions, the team responded to every request with a smile and genuine knowledge of the city.
The bedding is comfortable and the rooms are spotlessly clean. For a two-star hotel right in the centre of Paris, cleanliness is a real strong point frequently mentioned in reviews. The quiet of the courtyard-facing rooms is also appreciated by light sleepers.
The room décor with its wall frescoes depicting Parisian monuments is a lovely surprise. The hotel clearly has a visual identity that you simply won't find in standardised establishments. Some guests speak of a feeling of travelling back to the Paris of another era, which is all part of the charm.
For a room with a balcony overlooking Notre-Dame, the value for money is hard to match in the area. Several guests point out that the view from the balcony, first thing in the morning, is alone enough to justify choosing this hotel.
A stay appreciated for its family-friendly and welcoming atmosphere, far removed from the anonymity of large hotel chains. The round-the-clock reception and the availability of staff at any hour were cited as a real practical advantage, especially for late arrivals.