how does this flat in Paris look?

Most people in Paris do not have air conditioning. Chances are finding an apartment with air conditioning will cost you la peau de fesse.

In terms of location, you are in the heart of the Latin quarter! It doesn't get much better than this. You're close to many key sights, amazing restaurants, and you'll not forget you're in Paris. You are close to the metro and right near the Luxembourg gardens! No to mention the Cluny Museum and les Thermes du Nord! You're going to have an amazing trip! My suggestion is to go to google maps and look at it in street view.

That area will probably be a tad noisy. Is the flat on the street side? Location is great as far a mass transit, very close to the metro station that goes to Gare du Nord (Eurostar).
No AC. That could be dicey. You could be just fine or you could be sweltering. When, exactly, in Summer?
It's a lovely area. Close to the Sorbonne, Luxembourg Gardens.

Apartments rarely have true AC; the portable units that roll around are worthless and musty in our experience. If it is warm you will be hot; it often cools down in Paris at night except in the worst of the heat so cross ventilation is important and having a fan available is important. We don't go to Paris in the summer for this reason. We were there last May and had to go out and buy a fan to be comfortable at night.

The area is great for a first visit. Expect it to be noisy and since your windows will need to be open at night, take earplugs and if it works for you a white noise machine.

Pros: near the Luxemboug Gardens RER station, near the gardens, bus 38 goes North south for you, easy to walk many places.
Cons: check where in the building the apartment is located. If a bedroom is on the Blvd St Michel side, that would be the dealbreaker for me even with double or triple glass windows. It's actually not as close to the St. Michel metro as some say, but easy to get to the Odeon station.

If the bedrooms check out, and you can open the windows for air, you're good. If it's hot, you'll just deal with it the way most people do.

Edit: I've walked by that building for years and years and always thought it was some sort of government building, too.

Also, by first floor do you mean American first, which is ground floor, or European first, which is US second floor?

Frankly, that looks like a school or government building...
I would not stay in a first floor flat, because you won't be comfortable opening the windows - unless it is in the courtyard beyond the big doors.
If it isn't in a courtyard, there will be people passing by, buses, traffic and it will be dark. You probably won't sleep well.
I'd look elsewhere.

will be coming via the eurorail from London

Lori, Minor point, but to avoid confusion you won't be "coming via the eurorail". Eurail is a travel agency that sells rail passes. It doesn't operate any trains.
The trains from London St Pancras station to Paris Gare du Nord are run by Eurostar. Website: https://www.eurostar.com
Trains from Paris to Belgium also depart from Gare du Nord, but are run by a different company: https://www.thalys.com/.

Where did you find the listing?
Not to scare you off but last I was aware most Airbnb and similar rental listings by owner are not legal rentals in Paris.

They had a big crackdown last year but it is hard to stop and not sure how motivated the city is at this moment in time or are not.
Basically owners are only allowed to rent for a small number of days/weeks of the year ; so it is fairly easy to see based on looking at the number or reviews or availability calendars how often a place is being rented out.
If not through an agency of some type chances are it is not a legal rental.

Why should you care: You won't get in trouble or anything but the renters concern is if you rent a place for the future and in between now and then your renter gets in trouble than your rental period will be cancelled on you. You would get your money back but may be in last minute have no place to stay situation.

Not saying to go with a pricey hotel or a rental agency just that in Paris there is some risk involved that is not present in other cities around the world.
Really not trying to scare you off just think people should be knowledgeable about that if they are not already.

Just a few things to add to MReynolds' post above.
The "big crackdown" is ongoing. The owner of an apartment in the building where I own my apartment just stopped renting his apartment, which he had been renting very discreetly, because he became convinced someone was about to report him and he was going to be looking at a 50,000€ fine. Owners who are full time residents of Paris are allowed to rent, assuming the building allows it, their residence for up to 120 days per year. In the current situation, if a rental is through an agency, IMO the odds are greater that it is not a "legal" rental. Why? Because most agencies require that the apartment be available for 48 weeks per year. The odds of getting a local person who is legally renting are far better if you look at AirBnB. That is more or less the current situation but beginning December 1, 2017, all short-term rental property owners will be required to obtain a registration number from local authorities. Beginning on December 1, all properties that are not registered as second homes will have to post their registration number on their Airbnb (or other online) listing. As I mentioned before full-time residents are authorized to do short term rentals of their residence for a maximum of 120 days per year. Other apartments may be rented, but only for longer periods of a year or more (9 months for students), unless the owner has a commercial license for the apartment and getting that commercial license is a costly proposition.

To the excellent above, I would only add the residence rented to others must be the primary residence of the owner..

...and not a tenant with a year-long lease, who is not allowed to sublet.

I really do think that this is a government building or a school.
Did you email the owner and ask if the apartment is in the courtyard?
Are you confusing the ground floor (rez-de-chaussee) with the first floor?

I wouldnt rent an apartment in the summer without AC.. and I have rented three with it.. and they were not overly expensive. Look at Parisbestlodge.. they have one with two bedrooms near Luxembourg Gardens, most of their other ones would be too small however.

Being on ground level you would never want to leave windows open ,, and the noise of being on Boulevard St Michel ( unless it faces an inner courtyard) would also put it on a " no" list for me.

I would keep looking myself.. and if you want to be completely sure its legal then consider renting an Aparthotel.. Citidines is a reliable chain with buildings in some good areas.

This apartment is right next door to the "Redskins shop" isn't it?
A bus stop and high traffic noise - plus no a/c - will not make you happy.

If you need two bedrooms, or can make do with a sofa-sleeper couch, I'd suggest a cheaper arrondissement. You can look in the 11th or 12th for good deals on hotels with air-conditioning.

***EDIT* If this is the apartment that I think it is (AirBnB?), this apartment appears to be in the back courtyard. Has a straight ladder leading up to a sleeping loft - which has no window and will be hot - and a sofa sleeper. No air-conditioning and no shutters to close to keep it cool.**
If you found this apartment by VRBO or other means, it's much nicer, if it's in the courtyard.

I have never lived anywhere in France that had air conditioning. I remember learning the word "canicule" and keeping the shudders closed all day in an attempt to make the residence cooler. I'm also in my early 30s and am not at a stage of my life where I can afford a more expensive lodging. This summer I'm going to be spending the month of June in Rouen in an airbnb with no air conditioning. In fact, there was only 2 or 3 on the website that had air conditioning at double the cost of what I'm paying. I remember many a 14 juillet going home and marinating in my own sweat! Part of the cultural exchange.

Alexander, Rouen is in Normandy. Its average June temperature is several degrees cooler than in Paris, and it's probably less likely to be hit with a multi-day heat wave. (However, I see that Rouen had a 5-day period of temps over 80F in June this year.) I might gamble on no a/c in Rouen if it saved me a lot of money; I wouldn't do it in Paris.

I'm aware that Rouen is in Normandie. I've roasted there several times before,

I found this listing with cobblestoneparis, which is recommended by our host, it is on first floor, so second for USA, and has a terrace in the courtyard, they claim the heat shouldn't be an issue, with insulated walls and having fans... My bad with referring to train as eurorail instead of eurostar...I'm just a beginner and learning ;) the son in law will fly back from CDG, the others of us will travel on to Belguim. I did bring up street view and yes it looks like a school bldg but many european bldgs do...I thought it seemed like a good fit for us with our first visit, close to transportation and easy walking distances. I was just concerned about location and lack of ac

If the apartment manager will give you fans, and you're OK with that and the possible noise from other apartments - trash bins in the courtyard, etc - you might as well stay there.
On the other hand, some managers will only give you one fan, so you might have to purchase them yourself.
If there are shutters, you should close them and the windows in the daytime, and open them at night, to keep everything as cool as possible.

Is this the one called Balcon Notre Dame? If so, it's not 40 but probably 4 bd. St. Michel. Very lovely furnishings, but you wouldn't be able to open windows on street side, It says it has a view of Notre Dame but that also means very congested street and sidewalks. There was a Chinese tour group shooting photos in the rain of the outside of Shakespeare and Co the other night as we dodged our way to a restaurant, for example. Fab situation for transportation but you need details on the apt and its potential for quiet.

I agree.

This apartment is not on a courtyard but right on the river. You'll have the boat cruises going by with hi-powered lights, and you'll have to close the drapes to block that out. There will be sirens, because of the Prefecture (police station)...

I had a friend who was staying on the other side of the river and she couldn't stand the noise, couldn't open the windows for air, etc.

This apartment may not be available by next Summer, if the property owner does not get his registration number. I would not advise sending money to him until after around February, because it might disappear from Cobblestone.

Catching the 38 bus on Bd. St. Michel this afternoon, I went by both 4 and 40. Four is at the river backed up to Place St. Michel and the fountain. Three + bus lines go by, a metro, two RER trains, chronic traffic jams, a lot of pam-pom sirens, boats....This is the most centrally located apartment I've ever seen, like being in Times Square. Only the building at #2 is closer to the river. Forty is indeed a government building, offices for thé Regional Council and a lycée.

The apartment has reviews posted on Flip Key, https://www.flipkey.com/properties/8323211/, from the last 8 months. Those may be something to look at on any issues. I am a Cobblestone Paris customer, last year I stayed on Ile. Saint-Louis & for next year I'll rent the same place again or somewhere in the Marais from them.
Enjoy your trip.

Legality aside, the Flipkey page linked above has seven reviews, each at five stars, and not fake sounding at all, imo. Sounds like people have enjoyed this apartment!

If I'm not mistaken, the toilet is a "sanibroyer" - an electric thing that you can only put human waste in. If it clogs up or goes out, you will be stuck - if there's only one toilet.

Aside from a great view, there isn't anything special about this apartment.
Are there even double-glazed windows?

Interesting Dave. Some seemed too repetitive to me with no mention of the constant traffic and double-decker tour buses,, which is the flip side of that amazing view and location.
How does chexbres know it has an electric toilet? We had one in Toulouse that broke. Luckily, it was the second toilet.
Edit: I think the electric plug on the toilet is for a bidet and washing feature as found on upscale Japanese toilets. The flush mechanism on the wall indicates a flush toilet. But I agree with chexbres that you should ask because it does look like there are two plugs.

The photos show one bedroom in the back of the apartment away from sound, which is good. The other bedroom is more difficult to tell, but it's next to the kitchen. Indeed, the photos make the apartment appear on a higher floor, which is good. As long as it doesn't get too hot, this is a beautiful, nicely furnished and located apartment.

There are controls and a plug that goes directly to the toilet. This looks like a more modern version than the older ones, which just had one button.

I would ask the owner if it is a "sanibroyer" or other type of toilet - or you will be having to use the nearest cafe.
The apartment is listed as being on the 2nd floor, by the way.

If you go to the full screen, there is a sign which might mean that you can only put human waste in the toilet.
There is an "X" which might mean that you should put anything else in the wastebasket.

I don't know why anybody would include a Japanese style toilet in such a small space, where you can't really use the controls effectively.
Or, for that matter, spend that much money.

Regardless of the type of the toilet - and I see the sign too, although I can't read it - I would be very concerned to know if I could fit onto the toilet which seems to have virtually no clearance on either side. I certainly has a control panel as well as a button. Whichever it is I wouldn't want to wake the house every time I used it.

I've used macerating toilets elsewhere and they aren't the quietest in the world.

Since we haven't heard anything from the OP, perhaps she's considering other options?

I stayed in a B&B in Catania, Sicily, that had a macerating toilet. It made a great deal of noise, and I was glad I was traveling alone so my use of the toilet didn't disturb my travel companions. It may not have been typical, but the noise also kicked off with more than the very slightest use of the wash basin. I don't think many tourists would find it acceptable to stay in a place so equipped.

"Sanibroyeurs" are normally banned in residential apartments, specifically because they cause too much noise and do back up in the sink plumbing.

To the OP - Nobody is trying to deny you an apartment.
We are just trying to make sure that you know all the facts - especially including the address, which seems to be erroneous.
Hopefully, you will find another one.

sorry for lack of reply, I've recently had surgery...the flat in question is listed at 40 blvd St. Michel, it is the La terrasse du sorbonne flat with cobblestone paris, it is not on the river, it is closer to the university. They state they provide fans, I had not idea that I now have to be concerned with a type of toilet LOL heaven forbid I will not want to be running around throughout the night looking for a place to potty...so I will indeed ask about the number of fans and the type of toilet along with traffic congestion

Looks like you're safe with the toilet.

And it looks like there is a washing machine, but no dryer - so I would just ask about that - maybe it's one of those new combo units, which has a condenser drawer that you empty out.

Did you see the post from Bets, 9 posts up, where she went to both buildings and said from her observations:-

Forty is indeed a government building, offices for thé Regional Council and a lycée.

True Nigel. I went by on the bus and have walked by there for the last forty years. It could be an apartment originally built to go with a certain kind of government job. Paris is full of surprises, including hidden apartments. I hope Lori gives a full report.

The apartment looks very modern and lovely, but I'd also be concerned about the noise and lack of AC, even though we were freezing in Paris in early June of 2012.

The picture of the toilet is #82 of 88. I don't know what all the apparatus on the side of the toilet is about. The flush on the back wall is a normal #1 and #2 flush.

The sign on the left is to tell the men to sit to pee. Here are some examples. Some are quite amusing.

Thanks everyone, I did get an immediate reply back from cobblestone, it is indeed a normal toilet not a sanibroyer, and I was told both bedrooms will have a fan and I can get an additional one for the living room should we choose. She also stated that the apt does face the courtyard and they have never rec'd negative comments about noise so I am thinking this will be a good choice for us, lets just keep our fingers crossed that not having ac won't be an issue...I don't see many places with ac so I will be positive! and I will be sure to give my input after our summer vacation!

If there are shutters or drapes, keep them closed during the day, and the windows, too.
That will help keep things cool.

Looks good! And you have windows on 2 sides. Nicely furnished.

But I'm still curious about that building. See all the high school students in the Google photo. Please do tell us about the use of this building and the configuration when you get back next summer.