Le Marais is the lively and modern district of Paris: the place to be. Centered around the Halles market and Pompidou center, also called Beaubourg Modern Art Museum, the Marais offers many art galleries, cafés, shops and lovely streets perfect to wander through this mixed neighborhood. On the eastern side, you will discover beautiful private mansions, some transformed into art galleries, the Jewish quarter with delicious restaurants.

The Pompidou center is the French equivalent to MoMA. The modern and controverted building is a blend of glass, colors and pipes, it offers a magnificent view of the city from its top.

On the side of the Pompidou center, on Igor Stravinsky square, colorful and harmonious fountains, full of kids playing into the water in summer, is a delight for the eyes. They were designed by the famous Niki St Phalle and Jean Tinguely.

In summertime, there is always some street art going on in this area. 

Beaubourg modern art museum in paris

Beaubourg Modern Art Museum esplanade


The numerous designers of the Marais are known for their avant-garde collections. While strolling the great shops of Le Marais district, you might find some hidden jewels you may be tempted to bring back home.

Les Halles have always been the main food market in Paris: it became a very bad neighborhood in the 90’s and was entirely renovated very lately. The new roof architecture is quite controversial – we let you judge of it. For cheaper shopping, you may head to rue de Saint Denis.

For some nice food shopping, we advise you to go to rue Montorgueil (Sentier metro stop).

rue montorgueil terrace paris

Food shopping or nice terraces, rue Montorgueil


Le Marais district stretches East to the Bastille square and on the way, you should not miss the gorgeous and unique architecture of Place des Voges.

Historically, Le Marais is Paris Jewish district and Rue des Rosiers remains the heart of it with its synagogue and typical restaurants: the most famous is l’As du Fallafel for which you may have to be patient to be served as it is a very busy place. For a nice snack, in a quieter ambiance, you may enjoy a tea & cake at Le Loir dans la Théière.

Art lovers will also enjoy the renovated Picasso Museum and its 4600 artworks.

Eventually, Paris City Hall is along Le Marais district south-west border: this is an impressive monument which you should stop for a minute and look at. Next to it, shopping lovers will enjoy the BHV (Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville). This is a Grand Magasin like Printemps or Galleries Lafayette but we like it better for its Eiffel architecture and the little less tourist crowds than in the Boulevard Haussman’s grands magasins.

BHV grand magasin in le marais paris

BHV Grand Magasin couple and Paris City Hall on the right

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Ed
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her …
Naomi
My boyfriend and I spent a week in Paris last month and we decided that we would do a couple of day-tours outside of the city during our trip. We really wanted to avoid the typical tour-bus day-tour and the crowds that come along with these kinds of tours – we wanted something more personalized that would allow us to go at our own pace. I found the …
Sandra
My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her …

Our Travelers’ Photos

The Loo Family
From Malaysia
At the breakfast table in the Loire Valley
The Ko Family
from Korea
on the French Riviera
Michele, Jacques, Nicole, Gaetan, Joanne & Keith
from Canada
In the Loire Valley
Tracey & Sandra
From the US
In Provence...
Karen
from the US
Eating lunch at Jules Verne restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower
Kelsey
from the US
With her hosts at the B&B in the Loire Valley
Sharon & Bob
from Canada
Meeting with us in the Loire Valley (with Guillaume, Jeanne and Pauline)
Sonia & Peter
from Canada
in Carcassonne Medieval City
Cassandra and Justin
Cassandra & Justin
in Gordes, Provence
Our guide with Jean's team
In the quicksands in Mont Saint Michel bay
Cynthia & Roger
from the US
in Monet's House and Gardens in Giverny
Lis, Mervyn & Stephen
from Australia
On the Riviera

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