The Marais Area: a village in Paris

The historic district of Le Marais is renowned for its palatial townhouses and grandiose squares but scratch beneath the surface and you will discover narrow winding alleys and quaint Jewish delicatessen. This two-hour stroll around the little village in the heart of Paris will surprise and enthral you as you delve deeper into the culture and heritage of the city’s capital.

Delight at the architectural beauty of the many hotels (as palaces are confusingly called) in the area that stretches to the right bank of the River Seine. Learn of the prestigious heritage of the buildings in Le Marais, most of which were the Parisian homes to the aristocrats of the Ancien Régime. The area owes much of its grandeur to the urban planning of kings Charles V and Henri IV, who ordered the design of the Place Royale, now known as Place des Vosges.

The elegant hotels of the Place des Vosges will compete for your attention with the subtle streets with secret doorways, which so inspired Victor Hugo when writing his most famous works. He penned some masterpieces such as Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre-Dame, while residing in Le Marais.

Visit the St Paul Quarter and discover many other treasures including the only Jesuit Church in Paris, and the former royal palace that secretly became an antique dealers’ village. The area is also home to an impressive fragment of medieval walls. Conclude with a visit to the charming St Louis Island on the Seine.

Meeting/pick -up point: No.214 Rue de Rivoli.
Duration: Two hours.
Start/opening time: Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm from April 1 to October 31.
Languages: English on Wednesday and Friday, Spanish on Friday and French on Wednesday.

Assistance or guided tour

Meal

Drinks

Admissions

Optional meal

At 2.00 pm

Appropriate age for child ticket from 4 to 17 years