Le Marais

You can continue your walk toward

Hotel the Ville and BHV department store

In 2010, BHV has made its contribution to contemporary design, by creating an area devoted to it: L’Observatoire du BHV. Situated on the 5th floor under the rotunda, this unique place, with exceptional view of Paris City Hall, exhibits works (photographs, furniture, textiles, paintings, etc.) by French and foreign designers. Finally, to deepen your culinary knowledge, BHV organize cooking classes, given by professionals of L’Atelier des chefs.

L’OBSERVATOIRE DU BHV - BHV (5th floor), 52 rue de Rivoli, Paris 4th Tel +33 (0) 9 77 40 14 00 www.bhv.fr

Close by

Pavillon de l'Arsenal

21, boulevard Morland, 4th, M° Bastille

To find out more about future building plans of Paris and Ile de France visit The Pavillon de l’Arsenal, a center for information, documentation and exhibition for urban planning and architecture of Paris.
The Ground floor has a permanent exhibition about the history of the development of Paris. The First floor has series of temporary exhibitions that highlight the latest issues facing urbanism and architecture in Paris. It is also the location of lectures and debates where some of the most important local and international architects, urban planners, theorists, and critics will discuss new projects and plans for the future of Paris. Free

The Marais—Neighborhood of Culture

The Marais was once a swamp, then drained and developed by the Knights of Templar and King Henri II, who once had a palace near Place des Vosges until his accidental death in a friendly jousting match. Many of the private mansions date to the 17th century when the Place des Vosges was built and the area became a popular aristocratic neighborhood. After the Revolution it was deserted and then inhabited by Eastern European Jews who used the old mansions for leather and jewelry workshops. Their community was virtually wiped out in WWII, and by the 1960s it was a rat-infested ghetto.

Today it's a different story. The old mansions have become museums and the narrow streets are lined up with small shops, cafes and restaurants.

Here are a few places to visit in Le Marais:

Place des Vosges - Maison de Victor Hugo

www.maisonsvictorhugo.paris.fr

Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée, 6, place des Vosges, 4th, M° Chemin-Vert, Saint-Paul or Bastille

April 2020: Victor Hugo's house reopens.

Victor Hugo lived on the second floor of the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée from 1832 to 1848. He wrote some of his major works there : Marie Tudor, Ruy Blas, Les Burgraves, Les Chants du crépuscule, Les Voix intérieures, a large part of Les Misérables... and received Lamartine, Vigny, Dumas, Gautier... The visit of the apartment illustrates the three main stages of his life (before, during and after exile) through the display of his furniture, different memorabilia and some astonishing interior decoration produced during his exile in Guernesey.
The first floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions and displays his drawings as well as an iconography of his literary work. Entrance is free (except during Temporary Exhibitions.)

Musée National Picasso

www.museepicassoparis

Hôtel Salé, 5, rue de Thorigny, 3rd, M° Saint-Paul, Saint-Sébastien Froissart or Chemin Vert

Set in an historic hôtel-particulier, this museum offers Picasso’s artistic creation.

Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme

Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme
Hôtel de Saint-Aignan
71, rue du Temple, 3rd, M° Rambuteau or Hôtel de Ville

Created in 1948, the museum holds a rich collection of Jewish works and cultural pieces contributed by French and other European museums.

Musée des Arts et Métiers

Musée des Arts et Métiers
60, rue Réaumur, 3rd, M° Arts et Métiers or Réaumur-Sébastopol

There is much to see in this century old museum that specializes in technological inventions and discoveries and has about 3,000 such items on display. From computers and cars to early aircraft and even a scale model of the Statue of Liberty that you can climb inside.

Start your exploration of Paris by visiting the Musée Carnavalet. Here you’ll discover the History of Paris. Best of all it’s free.

Spend some time in this museum, which reveals the secrets of the City of Light from prehistoric times to today. A plethora of sculptures, paintings and pieces of furniture, everyday objects like dishes, old newspapers, street signs and souvenirs of historic events retrace, each in its own way, the history of Paris. This museum is set up in two townhouses (the Hôtel Carnavalet, built in 1545 and the Hôtel Le Peletier in the 17th century).

23 rue de Sévigné, 3e

Metro: St-Paul, Chemin Vert, Rambuteau

More information on www.carnavalet.paris.fr

Opening hours: 10am-6pm Tue-Sun

Marais - things to see and do

Centre George Pompidou - the modern art gallery with a twist

Centre Pompidou – The Centre Pompidou houses the National Museum of Modern Art, Children's Gallery, movie theaters and cafes.

Designed by the architects, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. They created the modern art gallery with a twist. They’ve made all the bones of the building visible. You can see the utility pipes and escalator tubes climbing around the exterior of the building. Parisians called it Notre-Dame des Tuyeaux (Our Lady of the Pipes).

The tubes and blocks outside the

Pompidou Center are color coded:

RED = transportation

YELLOW = electricity

BLUE = air conditioning

GREEN = water

Place Georges Pompidou, 4e

Metro: Rambuteau

More information on www.centrepompidou.fr

Opening hours: 11am-10pm Wed-Mon

In the plaza in front of the Centre Pompidou there's always something going on – mimes, marching bands and other street performers. Pick up some food from the local vendors, sit in front of Beaubourg and enjoy the performance.

Centre George Pompidou - the modern art gallery with a twist