What You Will Do
Discover the secrets behind Paris’s former royal neighborhood on this 2.5 exclusive guided walking tour of the Marais. Your guide will lead you through the tiny streets, courtyards, and mansions that make up this quintessentially Parisian district.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
Meet your guide in front of the entrance to the St.Paul metro station (line 1). Please arrive 10 minutes prior to departure time.
1
Le Marais
2 hours 30 minutes
Start by understanding the historic importance of the Marais, which once laid beyond the center of Paris. Today, it is at the heart of the city. Discover the Church of Saint Paul and Saint Louis before walking through the courtyard of the majestic Hotel de Sully. Continue experiencing the royal history of the Marais by exploring the pristine Place des Vosges, a public square with unparalleled beauty in Paris. Afterwards, move forward in time to learn all about the bustling Jewish community that put the Marais on the map through the 18th and 19th centuries. Wander the bakeries and boutiques of the Pletzl before strolling the shop-laden rue des Francs Bourgeois. All the while you’ll discover mansion after mansion, former homes to the nobility that once called the Marais home. Some are now museums, like the highly worthwhile Musée Carnavalet. The tour may also introduce you to both the Hotel de Ville, or City Hall, and the Pompidou Center, both architectural masterpieces from very different periods.
2
Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis
10 minutes
We will start our tour by visiting the 17th century St-Paul-St-Louis church, which was built by the Jesuits after a design inspired by that of the Gesù church in Rome.
3
Jardin de l'Hotel de Sully
10 minutes
We will then pass by the Hotel de Sully, a building built between 1624 and 1630. Designed by architects Jean 1er Androuet du Cerceau and Yves Boiret in the Renaissance style with Baroque elements, the construction of the hotel fits in a larger movement of monumental building in this part of Paris.
4
Place des Vosges
10 minutes
Next we will make our way to Place de Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris. A stroll in the Marais without admiring Place des Vosges is like a walk on the Champs Elysees without seeing the Arc de Triomphe!
5
Rue des Francs Bourgeois
10 minutes
We will then walk along Rue des Francs Bourgeois, one of the longer and more interesting streets in the Marais district, known for being trendy with its numerous fashion boutiques.
6
Musee Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris
10 minutes
Following on, you will see the Hôtel Carnavalet, one of the rare examples of Renaissance architecture in Paris, along with the Louvre’s square courtyard. Along with the Hotel Carnavalet, you will discover the Musée Carnavalet, a museum which highlights the Paris’ past and reveals the city’s diverse personality.
7
La Rue des Rosiers
10 minutes
We will then walk along Rue des Rosières, a little street which lies at the center of the Jewish quarter.
8
Jardin des Rosiers - Joseph-Migneret
10 minutes
Next you will see the Jardin des Rosiers, a little garden tucked between hotels and hidden behind boutiques. This hidden place is named to honor Jospeh Migneret, a school principal who helped dozens of students by hiding them in his home during WW2 and who was eventually arrested and killed.
9
Centre Pompidou
10 minutes
Coming close to the end of your tour, you will make your way to the Centre Pompidou, the infamous contemporary museum known for its exterior that was designed in the style of high-tech architecture. The idea for this multicultural complex was to bring together different forms of art and literature in one place, as part of the ideas from France’s first Minister of Cultural Affairs.
10
Hotel de Ville
10 minutes
We will end our tour at Hôtel de Ville, the building housing the city’s local administration. It has been the headquarters of the municipality of Paris since 1357.
11
Eglise Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais
10 minutes
Just next to Hôtel de Ville, you will catch a glimpse of the Église Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais, the first example of the French baroque style in Paris. A parish church until 1975, it is now the headquarters of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.
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