Le Marais rascal

Le MaraisA melting pot of desire and transgression, it became the epicenter of gay culture in Europe during the 1980s. Bars, saunas, backrooms—homosexual love was celebrated there with complete freedom. Subsequently, the heterosexual scene took over, with businesses dedicated to recreational sex. Sex shops became concept stores, and Pigalle-style boutiques transformed into ultra-chic lingerie shops. Let's take a look.

It was closed on Napoleon's orders because the ladies who performed there were of loose morals. Later, the place became warehouses and workshops. It has since been transformed into this modern hotel with its playful charm, preserving the duality of "loose morals" and its monastic aspect.

At reception, the desk is designed in the style of a confessional. The carpet, adorned with a snake motif, leads to a small lounge that can be closed off with curtains, and to the elevators that take guests to the rooms. A tour of the 28 rooms, including a 75-square-meter loft for six people, reveals a classic style with a touch of porno-chic.

Gypsy-style caravan cushions adorn the beds. A night's stay costs 300 euros, breakfast 25 euros. There's a view of the cozy atrium. Along the sentimental pink walls, paintings depicting either nude women or a topless nun evoke the world of Brigitte Bardot.

Two baths await you and can be reserved for private use for 1 hour and 30 minutes (-30% if you have booked a room): Venus and Hedona. One has a swimming pool and hammam, the other a jacuzzi and sauna. Don't miss a visit to the baths' restrooms: a confessional awaits your guilty pleas. Hail Mary.

For the past five years, the clientele has even aged. We've come a long way since the sex toys on Rue Saint-Denis. It must be said that at the "Le Passage" love store, the customer is king and the advice is top-notch. The sales staff is trained by the brands themselves and by sexologists. Don't be surprised if a saleswoman asks you, "What kind of stimulation are you looking for? Clitoral, penetrative, anal, etc."

In this fragrant boutique, you'll find an abundance of tech gadgets. The bestseller is the Womanizer, designed for clitoral pleasure. It's been a hit for ten years. The ultimate in gadgets is the Lelo Enigma, offering dual clitoral and G-spot stimulation for 244 euros, or even the triple stimulation version (clitoris, G-spot, and A-spot, or female prostate).

Consumers overwhelmingly favor vibrators designed for couples during penetration: the Tiani 3 vibrator (€119), the Ida Wave (€139), or the Lyla 2 (€109), a remote-controlled vibrating egg, are the most popular choices. Women are the ones buying them. Men are wary of this technological competition. The rabbit vibrator, a toy offering dual vaginal and clitoral stimulation, is priced at €89.25.

Otherwise, you can find good cosmetic products from Yes for Love, and for sex toys, the leading brand Lelo. Don't forget male and female condoms. Dental dams for fellatio are also available. For small gifts: The surprise bag is €24.90, and the candy-colored thong is €9.90.

Books, DVDs, videos, but also stimulants, lubricants, poppers, among other things to apply to the skin or under the nose. Large selection of metal or silicone cockrings (gadgets to put at the base of the penis to maintain an erection) at around 29 euros, dildos of all kinds (dog tails from 19 euros) etc.

People also come here for the unique textiles: firefighter and military outfits, neoprene clothing for channeling the Village People. YMCA… For something a bit more daring, there are latex balaclavas (around 49 euros) and hydrophobic bed linens (200 euros).

Founded in 2005 by a lesbian couple for women, this shop now caters to both lesbians and heterosexual women. The best-selling sex toy remains the Womanizer, closely followed by the torso harness or the strap-on dildo harness at €79, designed to simulate penetration.

The "choker," or close-fitting leather collar with a leash loop, sells for €36. Also known as a "submission collar," it has its fans. The "My Pussy My Choice" T-shirts, made exclusively by a seamstress, make their intentions clear for €29. Among the soft BDSM accessories, there's a "kitty" hood for €59.

In the lingerie department, there's a wide selection of catsuits—those bodysuits in fishnet or fine black lace, open or closed at the crotch. The legendary Maison Close brand (sizes 36 and 38 are currently on sale at Doll House) is a top choice, as are the creations of the Anglo-Japanese designer Elf Zhou London. And let's not forget DSTM, a beautiful German luxury brand. To complete the dominatrix look, go for a burlesque style with Yokko Chérie nipple covers.

Near Place de la République, this charming kinky boutique opened its doors in 2019. The softer items are displayed in the front, so as not to frighten the neighbors, while the harder ones are found in the back. Gabrielle and Monsieur couldn't find what they were looking for online.

Hence the idea of ​​creating a space dedicated to the world of chic porn nightlife and luxury BDSM. At Chez Vous monsieur…, you'll find vegan leather lingerie from the Tacite brand, priced at 339 euros, and Paloma Casile harnesses; the harness top is 39.90 euros, and the panties are 79.90 euros.

Not forgetting the sublime red vinyl lace-up corset or the croc-effect waist cincher from The Loussine London. Pair it with thigh-high street boots and all the clubbing essentials (L'Escarpin, Cris & Chuchotements, etc.).

Everything is made in France, including the latex, with beautiful cuts and high-quality materials. The python-style leather straitjacket with gold studs is a stunning piece priced at 500 euros. The Atelier D'Lys brand is featured exclusively here. And what's BDSM without impact accessories (whips, etc.)?

To play the role of the uncompromising mistress. If you're just starting out, you can begin by collecting hair clips with slogans like "Rhinestone Me Strong," "Miss," "Bitch," or heart-shaped plugs. A secret room displays exquisite handcrafted glass pieces. Perfect for the living room? Swinger and tantra classes are offered on weekends and evenings. In short, the entire spectrum of recreational sexuality is on offer. rendez-vous here.

Guillaume Bertrand, a troubadour, created the website sous-les-paves.com. Twelve themed guided tours (madness at the Salpêtrière, the history of Pigalle, the Templars, etc.) are offered within the city limits of Paris. The one that interests us is entitled "The Libertine and Scandalous Marais." Rendez-vous a rainy Sunday in January at 15 p.m. in front of the Saint-Paul Saint-Louis church.

Guillaume begins the tour in the church, reminding us of the fundamentals of libertinism: it's about being a free thinker, free from the constraints of religion and morality. Let's recall Molière: "hide that breast I cannot bear to see." And Cardinal Richelier, who had 14 cats, including the cat "Submissive," at a time when cats were associated with witchcraft. Le MaraisIt was the court's holiday resort, after having been a stinking swamp of brothels frequented by clergymen.

In the church, one can admire the holy water fonts given by Victor Hugo for the wedding of Léopoldine, known as Didine. In the 18th century, ladies were encumbered by their corsets and pannier dresses. It took three-quarters of an hour to dress a lady and just as long to undress her. In case of an urgent need during Mass, the lady-in-waiting would pass them a chamber pot called a "bourdaloue," named after the preacher, or a "stand-up urinal." All in the name of Christian morality.

At Passage Eginhard, one notices the presence of a well and wheel guards, those stone blocks intended to protect carriages on bends and for the drivers themselves. In the village of Saint-Paul, a well-hidden enclave, Guillaume tells us about the Bal des Ardents (Ball of the Burning Men). Charles VI, known as the Mad, had his favorites. During an evening when they dressed up as wild men to seduce the ladies, they caught fire from the torches. Only Charles VI survived.

At the Saint-Paul gate, we learn more about the private lives of Catherine de Medici and King Henry II. He reportedly had a short urethral opening, and she a retroverted uterus. During missionary position, the birth remained infertile for a long time. On the doctor's advice, they switched to doggy style, and ten children were born. Henry IV, known as the "Vert Galant" (the Gallant Green), is said to have had 77 mistresses. A record.

As for the Marquise de Brinvilliers, blue-eyed and petite, the daughter of a police commissioner, she poisoned all her relatives with arsenic. Liqueurs, thefts, mushroom pies—any means was acceptable to get them to swallow the poison. At the convent, letters were found in which she accused herself of all manner of evils: sodomy, lust, poisoning, abortion, and so on.

Jim Morrison, the great libertine, lived at 17 rue Beautellis. He died there in 1971.

Finally, we cross the Hôtel de Sully to reach the Place des Vosges, where in former times one could only stroll if well-dressed. It was here that Victor Hugo lived and wrote. Victor Hugo, the libertine, weed smoker, and lover of esotericism.

For the tea or sake ceremony, get your cutlery ready! Chopsticks, ramen bowls, a tray, and serving dishes. To keep your partner cool, choose from fabric, paper, flat, or accordion fans, starting at 9 euros. For a touch of elegance, hairpins and barrettes will complete your Japanese-inspired look. It's reminiscent of Nagisa Oshima's film, In the Realm of the Senses.