| Paris Le Marais - Self-Guided Walking Tour - Directions. |
| This stroll through Le Marais, one of the oldest districts in Paris, should take 3-4 hours at a very leisurely pace. And there are no hills to climb. |
| 1. Place de la Bastille |
| This is the site of the former Bastille prison, the focal point of the 1789 French Revolution. The column in the centre of the square (Colonne de Juillet) doesn't commemorate this event however. It commemmorates the later 1860 Revolution, and is a memorial to the Parisians who died during the Trois Glorieuses ("Three Glorious Days" of the revolution"). |
| On Sundays and Thursdays there is an open-air market just north of the square on Rue Richard Lenoir. |
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| Facing away from the Colonne de Juillet (July Column) turn left, then immediately turn right into Rue Saint Antoine. Walk along this road, past a number of side streets, until you reach No. 62 - the Hôtel de Bethune-Sully |
| 2. Hôtel de Bethune-Sully |
| Hôtel de Bethune-Sully is one of the finest surviving Louis XIII buildings in Paris.There is no public access to the interior of the building, but there is an exquisite garden to the rear which is a wonderfully quiet place to sit down and dream. |
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| First tip of the day: There is an exit at the north-east of the gardens which is a short cut to Place des Vosges. |
| To access Place des Vosges, pass through the door in the pavilion to the right of the orangery at the north-east corner of the garden. |
| 3. Place des Vosges |
| Place des Vosges is one of our favourite spoats in Paris. Once known as Place Royal, Place des Vosges was commoissioned by Henry IV in the 17th century. Four ornate fountains and a statue of a horse-riding Louis XII are to be found in the central gardens. |
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| Turn right as you enter the square, walking through the covered arcade on the south-side of Place des Vosges. Cross over Rue de Brague, and continue walking until you reach the building in the south-east corner of the square. This is the former house of Victor Hugo - Maison de Victor Hugo. |
| 4. Maison de Victor Hugo |
| At number 6 Place des Vosges you will find Hôtel de Rohan - Guéménée. Victor Hugo lived here from 1832-1848. The building is now a museum to the great French poet, playwright and novelist. |
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| As you leave Maison Victor Hugo, cross the road into the gardens at the heart of the square. Walk diagonally through the gardens and exit the square at the north-west corner. You will now be on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. Walk along this road until you reach Rue de Sévigné. Turn right into Rue de Sévigné and walk to number 23 - the Musée Carnavalet. |
| 5. Musée Carnavalet |
| The Musée Carnavalet is a museum dedicated to the history of Paris and to the French Revolution. Well worth a visit if you are at all interested in the history of the City of Lights. Even if you have no interest in the hostory of Paris, the 16th-century buildings which house the museum, and the gardens including the magnificent sculpture of Louis XIV are not to be missed. |
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| Continue across the courtyard and see the Hôtel le Peletier de St.Fargeau. |
| 6. Hôtel le Peletier de St.Fargeau |
| Hôtel le Peletier de St.Fargeau was originally seperate from Hôtel Carnavalet (home of the Musée Carnavalet) However, Hôtel le Peletier de St.Fargeau, the neighbouring 16th-century mansion was annexed to house the burgeoning collection. |
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| To continue the walk, turn left into Rue de Sévigné and walk to the end of the road, where you should turn left into Rue du Parc-Royal. This road leads you to Place de Thorigny where you will find the Musée Picasso (The Picasso Museum). |
| 7. Musée Picasso |
| The building is 17th-century and was formerly known as the Hôtel Salé. The building now houses the Musée Picasso, which includes 203 paintings, 191 sculptures, 85 ceramics and over 3,000 drawings by Picasso. In addition there are also a number of works by Matisse and Cézanne. |
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| Walk through the exit at the rear of Musée Picasso and turn left into Rue Vielle-du-Temple. Continue down this road until you reach the Hôtel de Rohan at number 87. |
| 8. Hôtel de Rohan |
| There is normally no public access to the interior of the building, other than during the occasional exhibition. However, if the exterior door is open, wander in to the courtyard to see one of the finest sculptures of 18th-century France, the high-relief Apollo's Horses of the Sun by Robert le Lorrain. |
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| Continue walking down Rue Vielle-du-Temple until the junction with Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. Turn right here and continue with the road on your left. At number 60 you will find the Hôtel de Soubise. |
| 9. Hôtel de Soubise |
| Hôtel de Soubise was built for the Prince and Princess of Soubise on the site of the former Grand-Chantier originally constructed in 1375. Today, Hôtel de Soubise is the home of the Musée de l'Histoire de France (Museum of French History) and is open to the public. Open daily, closed on Tuesdays. |
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| Retrace your steps back to the junction of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and Rue Vielle-du-Temple. Turn right into Rue Vielle-du-Temple. At number 47 you will find the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs de Hollande. |
| 10. Hôtel des Ambassadeurs de Hollande |
| Built in the 17th century, Hôtel des Ambassadeurs de Hollande is one of the most elegant mansions in Le Marais. The hotel counts Prince Charles, Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin amongst its former guests. |
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| Continue walking along Rue Vielle-du-Temple until you reach the junction with Rue des Rosiers. Turn left into this lively street in the heart of the Jewish quarter of Le Marais. |
| 11. Rue des Rosiers |
| Rue des Rosiers is one of the most vibrant streets in what was the Jewish quarter of Paris. Even today, the Star of David continues to shine from Jewish bookshops, restaurants, charcuteries and boulangeries. |
| The highly recommended L'As du Falafel (the best felafel in the world?) is located halfway down this street. |
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| Walk to the end of Rue des Rosiers and turn right into Rue Pavée and continue down this road until you arrive at the busy Rue de Rivoli. Cross the road here and turn right into Rue Francois-Miron. At number 68 you will find the impressive 17th-century Hôtel de Beauvais. |
| 12. Hôtel de Beauvais |
| Hôtel de Beauvais is a stunning 17th-century "hotel particulier" designed by Antoine le Pautre. Its most famous former resident was the 7-year-old Mozart who stayed here for 5 months in 1763 while visiting Paris for the first time with his father. |
| Excavation work in 1950 uncovered an underground chapel here, believed to be used for Black Masses. |
| There is no public access to the interior of the building, which now houses the Dour Administrative d'Appel de Paris.. |
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| Continue walking along Rue Francois-Miron until you reach the junction. Turn left into Rue de Jouy and walk down this road until you reach Rue Fourcy. Cross Rue Fourcy here and turn right into Rue du Figuier. Walk to the bottom of Rue du Figuier where you will find the turretted Hôtel de Sens. |
| 13. Hôtel de Sens |
| Originally built between 1475 and 1507, Hôtel de Sens is one of only three medieval houses remaining in Paris. Now home to the Bibliotheque Forney which is open to the public. |
| Mark the end of your tour of Le Marais by enjoying a relaxing seat in the very peaceful formal gardens. |
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| It is a very short walk west from Hôtel de Sens to Metro station "Pont Marie", the end of this self-guided walk through the Marais. |
| The above are just the highlights of Le Marais. As you walk along this route you will see some of the oldest, and most beautiful, buildings in Paris. If you see an open door into a courtyard, step through it. The most beautiful buildings can only really be appreciated from within. |
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| We hope that you enjoy your day walking through le Marais. |
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