Discover the secrets behind Paris’s former royal neighborhood on this 2.5 semi-private (12 guest maximum) guided walking tour of the Marais. Your guide will lead you through the tiny streets, courtyards, and mansions that make up this quintessentially Parisian district.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
✔ DURATION 2.5 HOURS
✔ SEMI-PRIVATE WALKING TOUR
✔ TOUR WILL RUN, RAIN OR SHINE
✔ SEMI-PRIVATE" MEANS GROUP SIZE IS NEVER MORE THAN 12 GUESTS MAXIMUM
✖ Tour Price Does NOT Include Hotel Pickup or Drop-Off (We Recommend UBER or Taxi)
✖ Tour Does NOT Include Gratuities (OPTIONAL)
✖ This tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
Departure & Return
Departure:
,
Metro exit Saint Paul (Line 1). Meet your guide outside of the exit of the metro station on the opposite side of the stairs next to Metro sign SAINT PAUL
Itinerary
1
Le Marais
Start by understanding the historic importance of the Marais, which once laid beyond the center of Paris. Today, it is at the heart of the city. Discover the Church of Saint Paul and Saint Louis before walking through the courtyard of the majestic Hotel de Sully. Continue experiencing the royal history of the Marais by exploring the pristine Place des Vosges, a public square with unparalleled beauty in Paris. Afterwards, move forward in time to learn all about the bustling Jewish community that put the Marais on the map through the 18th and 19th centuries. Wander the bakeries and boutiques of the Pletzl before strolling the shop-laden rue des Francs Bourgeois. All the while you’ll discover mansion after mansion, former homes to the nobility that once called the Marais home. Some are now museums, like the highly worthwhile Musée Carnavalet. The tour may also introduce you to both the Hotel de Ville, or City Hall, and the Pompidou Center, both architectural masterpieces from very different periods.
Duration: 2.5 hours
2
Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis
We will start our tour by visiting the 17th century St-Paul-St-Louis church, which was built by the Jesuits after a design inspired by that of the Gesù church in Rome.
Duration: 10 minutes
3
Jardin de l'Hotel de Sully
We will then pass by the Hotel de Sully, a building built between 1624 and 1630. Designed by architects Jean 1er Androuet du Cerceau and Yves Boiret in the Renaissance style with Baroque elements, the construction of the hotel fits in a larger movement of monumental building in this part of Paris.
Duration: 10 minutes
4
Place des Vosges
Next we will make our way to Place de Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris. A stroll in the Marais without admiring Place des Vosges is like a walk on the Champs Elysees without seeing the Arc de Triomphe!
Duration: 10 minutes
5
Rue des Francs Bourgeois
We will then walk along Rue des Francs Bourgeois, one of the longer and more interesting streets in the Marais district, known for being trendy with its numerous fashion boutiques.
Duration: 10 minutes
6
Musee Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris
Following on, you will see the Hôtel Carnavalet, one of the rare examples of Renaissance architecture in Paris, along with the Louvre’s square courtyard. Along with the Hotel Carnavalet, you will discover the Musée Carnavalet, a museum which highlights the Paris’ past and reveals the city’s diverse personality.
Duration: 10 minutes
7
La Rue des Rosiers
We will then walk along Rue des Rosières, a little street which lies at the center of the Jewish quarter.
Duration: 10 minutes
8
Jardin des Rosiers - Joseph-Migneret
Next you will see the Jardin des Rosiers, a little garden tucked between hotels and hidden behind boutiques. This hidden place is named to honor Jospeh Migneret, a school principal who helped dozens of students by hiding them in his home during WW2 and who was eventually arrested and killed.
Duration: 10 minutes
9
Centre Pompidou
Coming close to the end of your tour, you will make your way to the Centre Pompidou, the infamous contemporary museum known for its exterior that was designed in the style of high-tech architecture. The idea for this multicultural complex was to bring together different forms of art and literature in one place, as part of the ideas from France’s first Minister of Cultural Affairs.
Duration: 10 minutes
10
Hotel de Ville
We will end our tour at Hôtel de Ville, the building housing the city’s local administration. It has been the headquarters of the municipality of Paris since 1357.
Duration: 10 minutes
11
Eglise Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais
Just next to Hôtel de Ville, you will catch a glimpse of the Église Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais, the first example of the French baroque style in Paris. A parish church until 1975, it is now the headquarters of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional info
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
• A maximum of 12 people per tour allowed
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Minimum numbers apply. This tour will not run without a minimum of 2 guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative date or full refund.
• Notes: The tour route may be affected by national celebrations. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an alternative route still being able to see all the highlights on the tour. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. No large bags or suitcases are allowed during this tour. We recommend comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, umbrella in case of rain and hat during summer. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some can’t be visited from the inside.
