24 hours in le Marais – Essential places to visit

Le Marais is lucky: it's a neighborhood on the water's edge. However, a walk along the Seine is one of the best ways to approach Paris. You can walk there at any time, but why not start the day there, starting on theSaint Louis Island, the smaller of the two Parisian islands. There, the view of Notre-Dame is unique.

Then we cross the Louis-Philippe bridge to head towards rue Saint-Antoine where we have to push the door of theSaint-Paul Saint-Louis church where the composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier (died in 1704) was the music master and where five priests were assassinated during the French Revolution. You can admire Christ in Agony in the Garden of Olives, a painting from 1827 by Eugène Delacroix.

With its perfect proportions, the Place des Vosges is considered one of the five most beautiful in Paris – alongside Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, Place Charles de Gaulle-Etoile and Place Dauphine. The best way to access it is from 52, rue Saint-Antoine: you have to cross the two courtyards and enter through the small door at the end of the second garden.

Dating from 1612, the Place des Vosges was inaugurated on the occasion of the engagement of King Louis XIII to Anne of Austria. It was then called Place Royale but changed its name under Napoleon. Tree-lined, it is surrounded by art galleries, cafes and restaurants. It is a symbol of the Marais and a “must see”. The writer Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables and Notre-Dame-de-Paris lived there. His house is today a museum.

From Place des Vosges, take Rue de Franc-Bourgeois, with its many boutiques perfectly suited to shopping. Then head towards rue des Rosiers, the epicenter of historic Jewish quarter. Several restaurants, pastry shops and caterers perpetuate the culinary traditions of Central Europe but also of North Africa, notably falafels.

Cross this artery from east to west, then turn right onto rue Vieille-du-Temple, heading north. At number 99, admire the rear facade of the magnificent XNUMXth century mansion which today houses the Picasso museum. Continue going up towards rue de Bretagne where the famous and picturesque Red Children Market.

The oldest covered market in Paris (created 1615) was almost destroyed in the 1980s because of the mayor of Paris who wanted to replace it with a parking lot! Fortunately, the mobilization of residents made it possible to save this market which takes its name from an orphanage (closed 250 years ago) whose residents wore red uniforms.

Lively and popular, it is home to around fifteen more or less expensive restaurants, all of quality. There are plenty of choices between French, Italian, Japanese, Afro-Caribbean, Moroccan, Lebanese cuisine and even hamburger and sandwich restaurants, not forgetting the wine bars. To find a seat, it is best to arrive early, around 12 p.m. The rue de Bretagne next door is also home to many Parisian cafes.

Neighborhood of fashionistas, le Marais has dozens of “second hand” clothing stores. You can find pretty pieces by French designers (Courrèges, Dior, Chanel, YSL, etc.) but also what you need to build a wardrobe at affordable prices. It's all about having an eye! Le Marais is also a district of independent and modern jewelers with a multitude of creators from major houses: they too feel good in this district steeped in art and history.

Unable to visit le Marais without pushing the door of a Art Gallery. La Marais has around a hundred. Just like ready-to-wear stores, jewelers or Parisian cafes, they are part of the landscape. Visit some of them: it only takes a few minutes each time and allows you to get an idea of ​​contemporary creation.

It's time to indulge in one of Parisians' favorite activities: sitting on the terrace of a café to watch people go by while chatting over a drink. It’s the perfect time for socialization. You can easily talk to your neighbors at the table and meet people.

The French generally sit down to eat around 20 p.m. or 20:30 p.m. It is always wiser to reserve your table as early as possible in the Marais restaurants which are very busy. There are good bistros and some starred restaurants. French cuisine is not the only possible option. Le Marais has Italian, Japanese and Korean restaurants.

Our advice: consult the list of addresses recommended by le Marais Mood on our printed map of the Marais or on the lemaraismood.fr.

Before returning to the hotel, the bravest can have a last drink in a bar cocktails or a bistro. Jazz lovers can end the night at 38Riv, the Marais jazz club, at 38 rue de Rivoli.