The Marais is set in a triangle formed by L'Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), La Place de la Bastille (symbol of the French Revolution) and La Place de la République (headquarters of the French Republican Guard). It spreads over the third and fourth arrondissements of Paris, and over time its meaning has varied considerably.
The history of the Marais begins with the Templars, and around the 16th century it becomes a really important area. The elegant, classically French Place Royal (now known as Place des Vosges and considered the most beautiful square in Paris) ensured that the Marais was considered a trendy neighborhood, perfectly made for the sudden appearance of a large number of aristocratic residents. Parisians say that walking through the Marais without stopping at the Place des Vosges is like visiting the Champs Elysees without seeing the Arc de Triomphe.
A district of contrasts
Sunday in Paris? Essentially booked to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Marais. A perfect welcome begins with entering the district through the legendary Place des Vosges. Its elegant buildings and manicured lawns are enhanced by the sight of Jewish children sitting in a circle in the middle of the square and playing. The square is thronged with people - some admiring the works of art displayed under the towers, others simply strolling and enjoying the ambiance. The next challenge is to choose a table from one of the cute cafes and bistros in the neighborhood. Sunday brunch (breakfast – lunch) is extremely popular among residents and visitors to the Marais, even to the point that it sometimes takes considerable patience to get a free table. If we are here, we cannot miss lunch or dinner at the Anthracite restaurant (lunch between 15 and 19 euros, dinner a la carte around 40 euros). If we want to experience a special culinary service, then a visit to the Monjul restaurant is a must, where the food is simply a work of art. Don't be surprised if they serve you a line of red powder and a straw. Advance booking is essential! When we are in the Marais, time flies. Even a simple walk through the streets is a unique experience. After only a few meters of walking, we can meet a gay couple, followed immediately by a Rabbi and his disciples who are performing a strange (at least for those of us who are not familiar with the religion) ceremony in the middle of the street, along with an endless line of tourists waiting to get their turn for the most traditional falafel in town. Lovers of sweet vices will, willy-nilly, stop in front of the shop windows of shops/bakeries such as La Fougasse and Legay Choc. And the Marais doesn't end there. Shops for all tastes, including new high fashion and design names such as Muji, Gaspard Yrkievich, Pierre Talamon, Issey Miyake and Anne Fontaine are mixed with countless other designer shops and surrounded by boutique hotels such as Murano Urban Resort or Hotel du Petit Moulin decorated by Christian Lacroix. In addition, we come across boutique shops such as Bains Plus (bathing and bathtubs are an indispensable part of French culture). In the Marais, women are far from being the most driven members of the consumer tribe. This is proven by BHV Homme – a true temple of men's fashion, where we can find more than 150 brands from the world of men's fashion. Rue des Rosiers is perhaps the best summary of the Marais' special universe. Here, one after the other, we find an old-fashioned Jewish bakery and a crowded restaurant with Arab specialties, and a little further on, a gay couple dressed in the latest fashion in front of Pizza Kosher. Nightlife in the Marais? In the club Les Bains Douches are known for hosting the world's best DJs (Bob Sinclair, Dave Seaman...), Le Cabaret is known as the most chic club of the moment, the interior of which was designed by Ora Ito himself. Excellent in rhythms house and hip hop music, George Cloney and Mick Jagger, among others, enjoyed it.
Harmonic Chaos
It is precisely this mixture of contrasts and differences, which in a way sounds quite contradictory, that makes up what is probably the trendiest district of Paris. Add to the tradition represented by orthodox Jews and the no-holds-barred reality represented by the gay community, add all sorts of immigration issues and the trade of fashion designers, and we get proof that with a little creative thinking, even extreme extremes can peacefully coexist and create the best incredible reality: democratic and the harmonious chaos of a wide variety of people from all over the planet. Marais – the most colorful and charming neighborhood of a bustling city like Paris.
Information:
Purchases:
Muji, 47 rue des Francs Bourgeois, 4e, Marais, Paris
Gaspard Yurkevich Boutique show-room, 43, rue Charlot, Marais, Paris
Pierre Talamon, 15 rue du Temple, Marais, Paris
Issey Miyake, 3 place des Vosges, Marais, Paris
Anne Fontaine, 12 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Marais, Paris
Bains Plus, 51 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Marais, Paris
BHV Homme, 36 rue de la Verrerie, Marais, Paris
Stay:
Murano Urban Resort, www.muranoresort.com
Hotel du Petit Moulin, www.hotelpetitmoulinparis.com
Food:
Anthracite, 20, rue de la Reynie, Marais, Paris, www.anthracite-paris.com
Monjul, 28, rue des blancs manteaux, Marais, Paris
La Fougasse, 25, rue de Bretagne, Marais, Paris
Legay Choc, 45 rue Ste Croix de la Bretonnerie, Marais, Paris
Nightlife:
Les Bains Douches, 7 rue du Bourg l'Abbé, Marais, Paris
Le Cabaret, 2 Place du Palais Royal, Marais, Paris
