If you’re looking for a vacation destination that’s romantic, cultured, super-stylish, it really doesn’t get any better than Paris. Sure, the hotels are pricey, the people can be rude, and the diner at the next outdoor cafe table is as likely to be as pampered pooch as an actual person … but the City of Lights is just one of the world’s greatest cities, pure and simple.
One of Paris’ most elegant hotels is the Hotel Meurice, a (literal) landmark that’s been overlooking the Tuilleries Gardens for nearly 175 years. (In the summertime, that means it’s got a perfect view of the annual carnival that takes over the expansive park too — perfect if you feel like the French equivalent of a corn dog instead of yet another croissant and crème brûlée.) And right now the hotel’s supporting emerging artists as well as guests’ efforts to have a fabulous vacation with Le Meurice Prize for Contemporary Art.
Le Meurice Prize is the hotel’s annual award for an up-and-coming French artist, to help continue the hotel’s legacy of inspiring artists (like Salvador Dali and George Braque, both Meurice fans). It’s quite a prestigious honor: Winners are handed 20,000 Euros (whatever the exchange rate is today, trust us — it’s a lot of dough) by a panel of judges that includes experts from legendary French museums like the Louvre and the Jeu de Paume. As the hotel business is feeling the economy more than many other industries, Le Meurice funds the prize themselves to support French artists and help carry-on the property’s artistic heritage.
Not heading to Paris anytime soon? You can still see the award’s nominees and vote for your favorite at the hotel’s website. One website voter will receive a special surprise gift from Le Meurice. Let’s hope it’s not an “I Love Paris” leash for that dog enjoying a boule de l’eau at a cafe down the street.