Hidden Treasures of the Marais Family Tour
Not only do the Parisians adore the Marais, most visitors also fall in love with this very special part of the city. Combining centuries of history, sumptuous architecture, avant-garde fashion, world-class museums and art galleries and an amazing restaurant scene with some of the best street art in the city to keep younger visitors entertained, the Marais has something for everyone.
Napoleon III tore down most of the old city of Paris in the 1860’s, replacing it with the wide boulevards and elegant architecture that we see throughout the rest of the city, but the Marais was spared and retains the old world charm of narrow, winding streets, hidden courtyards and beautiful medieval and Renaissance mansions. Your guide will show you some of the most charming squares in the city, surrounded by lavish mansions where the wealthiest royal courtiers lived. See the Hotel de Sens, a magnificent palace built in 1500 and the Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares in the city and a favorite picnic spot in summer. Discover cutting-edge boutiques on the rue des Francs Bourgeois and stroll by the café terraces where the fashionable hang out by day and by night. Visit the traditional Jewish quarter, where you can taste the best falafel in the city and don’t forget to check out some of the newest and best pastry shops. Along the way, younger visitors can keep their eyes open for all kinds of street art - from space invaders to painted murals, decorated street signs and pasted paper art, there is something to spot on every corner.
Walk past the famous Centre Pompidou, so scandalous when it was first built, now loved by locals and visitors alike - home to the largest museum of modern art in Europe. See the fairytale architecture of Paris’ City Hall, and end your tour with a stroll by the riverside. Dynamic and modern, yet steeped in history and overflowing with charm, the Marais is the perfect place to wander, accompanied by a passionate local guide, and soak up the atmosphere of contemporary and historical Paris. The 2.5-hour tour ends at the Pont Marie.
