Discover Le Marais (“The Marsh”) in in 15 Steps

This walking tour starts in the square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, also called “Our Lady of Paris”. It is a historic Roman Catholic Marian cathedral on the eastern half of the Ile de la Cite and widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known churches the world ever built. It was begun in 1163 and essentially complete by 1345.

The prominent flying buttresses (arched exterior supports or spines) of Notre Dame Cathedral

Toll Free: 1 866 498-3920 www.FranceCruises.com Your first place to visit will be the two centuries-old Flower Market.

You can see down alleys, from the flower market, that still show traces of medieval Paris, even after Baron Hausmann’s renovation instituted during the reign of Napoleon III, between 1853 and 1870.

The market is open all day, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 7pm. One can shop for any and all species of plants, including exotics and carnivores. Sundays are dedicated marketing birds.

Next, you come to perhaps the oldest location in Paris, in the heart of the Ile de la Cite. It is one of two remaining natural islands located in the Seine within the city of Paris. The other island is Ile Saint- Louis. The Ile de la Cite is the center of Paris and remains the heart of Paris and the location where the medieval city was renovated.

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Sainte Chapelle (Ile De La Cite)

Today, it is often regarded as the jewel of flamboyant Gothic art and it is said that the crown of Christ is preserved within it.

Sainte-Chapelle served as a prison for years after the Revolution (this is where Marie Antoinette awaited execution in 1793) and it much later became a museum.

As you continue down the boulevard and look North across the Seine, you will observe one of the most beautiful sights in Paris—the Town Hall. You have now arrived at the Place du Chatelet, an ancient castle which guarded this part of the Seine from attacks that would have come from the river.

Its square consists of a fountain and two theatres built between 1860 and 1862.

Next, you come to the Bell Tower of the Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, built at the beginning of the 15th century and destroyed after Revolution

From there, you come to the Church of Saint-Merri was named after the Abbot of Saint-Martin, Meredicus. He was chosen as patron of the right-bank of the Seine in 884 AD. The current building was built during the first half of the century in Gothic style on the model of Notre Dame. Today, Saint-Merri is a musical parish giving free concerts regularly.

As you continue on the walking tour, you will make your way along rue Saint-Marin, which is the North- South axis of Paris dating back to the Roman period, arriving at the square in front of Beaubourg Centre. Built on the initiative of President George Pompidou, this huge building is the temple of contemporary art. From the terrace of the restaurant, you have extraordinary views of the entire capital.

The Cloitre des Billets is one of the last examples of Gothic cloisters to be preserved in good condition in the center of Paris.

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You soon come upon the Church of the White Friars (monks wearing white coats), established in 1258 by Saint Louis. Visitors come here for a rest after shopping nearby.

Further on, you will come to a small cul-de-sac. It is the deadlock or impasse of Crossbowmen. It is so named because it previously served as their archery field. It also has been well preserved to maintain its medieval appearance.

Next, you come to the most famous street in the Jewish section of Le Marais: . This is where you will discover everything regarding Jewish synagogues, libraries and especially food retailers, among which is the famous “Chez Deepak” or the “Goldenberg” butcher-delicatessen. You will also be among Jews in traditional costume. Along the way, you can read commemorative plaques that recall the persecution of the Jews during the war years of the 1940s.

Continuing on, you will discover what appears to be an old barn housing a huge antiquarian book trade. Nearby, at the corner of rue Pavee and rue de Francs Bourgois is the central library for the city of Paris.

The Hotel de Lamoignon is one of the oldest hotels in Le Marais. It was built for Diane de in 1584. She died at 81, following seven kings of France.

The second to last stop of the walking tour is the Renaissance-style hotel, the Hotel Carnavalet. It was acquired in 1880, by the city of Paris, for its historical museum. At the center of its gardens stands a statue of Louis XIV. This museum, the Hotel Carnavalet, is today a muse and can be visited for free during conventional hours.

Your last stop is the entrance to Place des on the rue des Francs-Bourgeois. Begun in 1605, during the reign of Henri IV, the construction is in the location of the ancient Palace of Catherine de Medici and was completed in 1612. It is famous for its symmetry and façade.

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