The historic Marais neighborhood is located on the right bank of the Seine, partially occupying the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of the French capital. It is one of the most picturesque and lively neighborhoods of Paris, where there are always many tourists and locals.
The turbulent history of the Marais neighborhood
The Marais (Marais – “marsh”) quarter got its name for a reason. In the early Middle Ages there were marshy lands, on which in the XII century the Order of Templiers settled. The monks diligently began irrigation works and soon turned the land unsuitable for farming into fertile plots. However, they did not enjoy the fruits of their labor: after the defeat of the Order and the burning of its head, Master Jacques de Molay, the monastery was destroyed and the land confiscated.
In the 14th century, the Marais attracted the attention of King Charles V, who decided to settle here while the Louvre was being renovated. In the 14th century, the Marais attracted the attention of King Charles V, who decided to settle here while the Louvre was being renovated. Later, the Turnell Palace was built in the area, which became the second residence of the French kings. Imitating the monarchs, the upper class began to move to the Marais. The prosperity of the quarter continued until the French Revolution. During this era, many owners of luxurious mansions were executed or forced to flee abroad. Craftsmen and artisanal workers moved into the buildings that were left without owners and set up their workshops in the elegantly decorated halls. The glory of the Marais began to fade: it had been transformed from an elite neighborhood into a working-class neighborhood inhabited by the poor.
Baron Osman’s transformations hardly touched the neighborhood, which allowed the old layout and most of the buildings to be preserved. At the same time, almost no attention was paid to the neighborhood, because of which by the middle of the XX century many buildings were in a deplorable condition. The situation was saved by the writer and Minister of Culture André Malraux, who in the 1960s called to preserve the historical monuments of the Marais. Soon the quarter gained fame as the most fashionable district of Paris, enjoying special popularity among representatives of the intellectual and creative elite.
Marais Attractions
Walking through this historic neighborhood, you can admire beautiful architectural monuments and visit rich museums. Some of the most famous sights in this part of the city include:
Picasso Museum
The Museum of the greatest artist of our time, Pablo Picasso, is located in the old Salé mansion, built in the middle of the XVII century. Its halls display an extensive collection of paintings, prints, collages, sculptures and sculptures, which familiarize you with the different facets of the master’s talent. In addition, there are archival documents and a large number of photographs that tell about Picasso’s life, family and loves. The museum also houses Picasso’s personal collection, which includes paintings by Matisse, Cézanne, African sculpture and other artifacts.
Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges is considered the oldest and most beautiful square in the French capital. Built on the site of the ruined Tournelle Palace in the early 17th century, it was originally called the Royal Square. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the square received a new name in honor of the province that was the first to pay taxes to the state treasury.
The space has the form of a regular square, in the center of which there is a small square with linden alleys, a fountain and an equestrian statue of Louis XIII. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings whose facades were designed personally by King Henry IV. The houses with mansard roofs and arcades were home to many remarkable people, including Cardinal Richelieu, the writers Théophile Gautier, Alphonse Daudet and Victor Hugo.
Museum of the History of Paris – Carnavalet
Not far from Place des Vosges is the beautiful mansion of Carnavalet, built in the middle of the XVI century. At the end of the XVII century it was home to one of the first French writers – Madame de Sévigné, whose letters are a valuable literary and historical monument of the era.
Currently, the building houses the Museum of Paris History, which presents a variety of exhibits: antique monuments found during excavations, models of medieval neighborhoods destroyed under Baron Ottoman, paintings and engravings with views of the city, signs from disappeared shops, historical relics (for example, personal belongings of King Henry IV, Robespierre, Napoleon) and much more.
Jewish Quarter
Since the Middle Ages, there was a small Jewish community in the Marais, whose numbers increased significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to the mass emigration of Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe.
The traditional home of the diaspora was Rue Rosier and the surrounding neighborhoods. This part of the city still retains a special atmosphere: pastry shops sell strudel and zemlach, while cafes and restaurants serve stuffed fish and the most delicious falafel in Paris. The spiritual center of the district is the largest synagogue in Paris, designed by the famous architect Hector Guimard in 1913 in the Art Deco style.
Among other attractions in the Marais are the Museum of French History, located in the beautiful Hotel Sully; the Gothic-Renaissance mansion de Sens, where Marguerite of Navarre lived; the church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, built by order of Richelieu; a small but interesting art museum Cognac-Jeu and other monuments. A personalized tour of Paris includes a sightseeing tour of this picturesque place.
Interesting Facts:
- In the Marais you can see the oldest building in Paris, built in 1407. The stone house, located on the Rue Montmorency, belonged to the famous alchemist Nicolas Flamel. According to legend, he managed to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone, thanks to which the scientist and his wife Pernella gained immortality.
- The oldest market in the French capital, founded in 1626, is located on the territory of the quarter. It has an unusual name “Des Enfants-Rouges” (Red Children’s Market), derived from the nearby orphanage. The children of this institution, founded by Marguerite of Navarre, wore red uniforms.
- The various neighborhoods of the Marais are favored by different nationalities or professions. In addition to the Jewish Quarter, there is also the Chinatown, the Clockmakers’ Quarter and others.
- After the opening of the Picasso Museum in 1986, numerous art galleries began to open in the neighborhood. Currently, there are about 150 such centers where you can admire and purchase works of art.
- Most of the stores and boutiques in the Marais are open on Sundays; in addition, many of the neighborhood’s streets become pedestrianized on this day, as car traffic is blocked off.
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