Le Marais

Le Marais: A Paris of Old-World Lanes

Le Marais sits on the north bank of the Seine, stretching from the Hôtel de Ville to the Bastille opera house and Place…

Paris City Hall: A Monument to the Republic

Our walk through Le Marais starts in front of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris's city hall. Built in the Neo-Renaissance style,…

BHV: Practical Shopping, Parisian Style

Face City Hall and look to your left, and you'll see a building marked "BHV." Pronounced "Bay-Ash-Vay" in French, the na…

The Paris Tourist Office at City Hall

Walk between the BHV department store and City Hall to reach the church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais, tucked behind th…

Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais: Modest Grandeur

Past the Paris Tourist Office, cross the crosswalk and turn right, and you'll find a modest church with a red door behin…

Rue des Barres: A Café Break on Medieval Cobblestones

To the south, the Seine flows by, and charming cafés, small shops, and medieval cobblestones give the street its romanti…

The Oldest House in Paris: Timber-Framed Charm

Paris preserves its past so well that the whole city feels like a museum, but the Paris we see today is largely the prod…

Rue François Miron: A Church on a Hill of Bones

You've arrived at Rue François Miron. From here, you can see once more that Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais was built on sli…

Colombage: Why Timber Houses Are Rare in Paris

Continue east along Rue François Miron, just a right turn as you leave Rue des Barres. After a few steps, you'll spot an…

Rue du Prévôt: One of Paris's Narrowest Streets

Rue du Prévôt is one of the narrowest streets in Paris. At its tightest it measures 1.8 meters across, and at its widest…

Philippe Auguste's Wall: The Edge of 12th-Century Paris

See the long wall running alongside the playground? It is a remnant of the Enceinte de Philippe Auguste, a medieval city…

Village Saint-Paul: A Little Village of Antiques and Workshops

"Village" is the French word for village, so Village Saint-Paul simply means "Saint-Paul village." A secret spot for a s…

At the Junk Dealer's Counter: A Marais Vintage Shop

Made it to Rue Saint-Paul? Before we duck into the alley called Passage Saint-Paul, let me introduce a fun vintage shop…

Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis: The Marais Neighborhood Church

Paris is a city of surprises: step off a lively, tourist-filled street, and you may find yourself somewhere quiet and se…

Hôtel de Sully: A 17th-Century Mansion and Its Quiet Garden

Exit Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis through the main doors and you'll find yourself on Rue Saint-Antoine. At no. 62 stands the H…

Place des Vosges: Paris's First Royal Square

Place des Vosges is the first royal square in Paris, built over seven years starting in 1605 at the command of Henri IV.…

L'Ambroisie: Three Michelin Stars on Place des Vosges

One Michelin-starred restaurant worth knowing on Place des Vosges is L'Ambroisie, at no. 9. It has held three Michelin s…

Maison de Victor Hugo: 6 Place des Vosges

From 1832, the French novelist and politician Victor Hugo lived for 16 years in a third-floor apartment at 6 Place des V…

Rue des Francs Bourgeois

Time to dive into the lively heart of the Marais. This is where trendy boutiques, small art galleries, atmospheric cafés…

Rue des Rosiers

Rue des Rosiers is known as the oldest Jewish quarter in Paris, and it has a reputation as one of the city's most beauti…

Rue des Rosiers No. 4: Hammam St. Paul

Just as you enter Rue des Rosiers, on the right at No. 4, you'll find a store of the Swedish fashion brand COS. The buil…

Goldenberg Deli

A little way along, on the left, you'll see a yellow building with a "Goldenberg Deli" sign. This Jewish restaurant at 7…

Jardin des Rosiers – Joseph Migneret

Time for a break in one of the Marais's best-kept secrets: the Jardin des Rosiers, also known as the Joseph Migneret gar…

Florence Kahn and Falafel Sandwiches

Leave the garden and continue through the Marais. See that bakery with the striking blue mosaic? The whole facade is bea…

Vintage Finds and Jewish Eateries

Rue des Rosiers is neither long nor wide, yet it's so rich in stories and so lovely that we'd love to introduce every si…

Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie

We've reached Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, a mouthful of a name. This street and the Rue des Archives that follow…

Fleux Concept Store

On the way to the Centre Pompidou, you'll come across Fleux, a concept store with locations at 39, 40, 43 and 52 Rue Sai…

Centre Pompidou

Keep walking past the Fleux stores and you'll reach the last stop on our Marais tour: the Centre Pompidou. Strictly spea…

The Rue Pavée Synagogue

Here is a striking synagogue designed by the French architect Hector Guimard, a pioneer of Art Nouveau best known for de…

Musée Picasso

Set in the 17th-century Hôtel Salé, the Musée Picasso is one of the Marais's must-see sights and a clear recommendation…

Swedish Cultural Centre

The Centre Culturel Suédois in the Marais offers a glimpse of Swedish culture, with a theater, a gallery and even artist…

Les Philosophes, Classic French Home Cooking

Les Philosophes, which means "The Philosophers," is one of the Marais's French home-cooking restaurants. A local favorit…

Paris Stock Shops

Around Paris you'll find "stock" shops where you can pick up brands that fashion-savvy Parisians swear by, such as Sandr…

Mariage Frères

Mariage Frères is said to be the oldest tea house in the world. Opened in 1854 under its founders' name, this renowned F…

Concept Store Merci

Merci is a concept store and a shopping stop that most visitors to Paris make a point of seeing. It sells a huge range o…

Place de la Bastille

Place de la Bastille is where the French Revolution began, on the site of the old Bastille prison. It's a place where th…