Highlights
- 2-hour guided Marais district walking tour
- Learn about the history and culture of one of the oldest districts in Paris from your guide
- Pass the Pompidou Centre, Hotel de Ville and Places des Vosges
- Discover the strong Jewish history of the Marais
- Walk through the bustling Rue des Rosiers and Place de la Bastille
Recent Photos of this Tour
Useful Information
Marais Walking Tour in Paris
Follow your guide through the narrow lanes of the Marais, where the next point of interest is the Hotel de Ville (the town hall). This impressive building dates back to 1553 and is now the home of the Mayor of Paris. The large square in front of the Hotel de Ville hosts different attractions throughout the year, including an ice-skating rink and outdoor concerts.
As you walk, your friendly guide will explain the fascinating history of this district. The Marais was the site of the first Jewish settlement in Paris and continues to be the hub of the Jewish community today. Pass by the Memorial de la Shoah, an important Jewish site inaugurated in 2005 that stands as a powerful reminder of the Holocaust in France.
Next, see one of the best examples of Jewish culture in the Marais today – the cobbled Rue des Rosiers, home to Jewish bakeries, bookshops and kosher food outlets. Walk along this vibrant street with your guide, and make note of its popular cafes to come back to during your time in Paris.
Continue to the Place des Voges, one of the oldest squares in Paris and a highlight of the Marais. It was once a royal park and is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Paris; it was also home to famous French writer Victor Hugo. Your guided Marais walking tour ends at the Place de la Bastille, the site of the famous Bastille prison that was stormed on July 14, 1789, marking the start of the French Revolution.
Reviewed by Tassietrude, May 2013
A thoroughly enjoyable walk with our great guide! We had lots of photo opportunities and lots of inside knowledge on the area. Thanks for a great afternoon topped off by a visit to a fabulous bakery!
Reviewed by Barry S, USA, April 2013
It was a gray day with the Paris skies periodically crying on us. However, our guide Gil Soltz made the trip well worth the visit. We started at the Pompidou Center of Art (which looks like it's still under construction...with all it's 'insides' hanging out). We ended at the site of the Bastille. In between, we wandered the Paris streets, a warren of randomly connected neighborhoods. We lingered at the the Hotel de Ville, the city hall and heard of its many lives. We saw preservation efforts, sites saved, sites lost and replaced with character-less buildings, a church, a Kosher neighborhood, and an eclectic array of shops, restaurants, and architecture. Our guide lives not far from the end of our journey and his love for the area was evident. With our small group of four, it was easy to ask questions and have the tour adapted to our needs. We return to Paris in two week and plan to return to the Marais District to do further looking since we have been well oriented by our guide. Paris is so big, being able to take a 'small bite' like this is very helpful in appreciating why Paris is so well loved.
