LGBT Experience - Marais Walking Tour

The Marais owes its name - Swamp - to the swampy area it once used to be many centuries ago, as the area itself is set under the water level of the river Seine. The first to really settle there, as the area became a part of Paris in the 13th century, were the Knights of the Order of the Templars, who built their temple along with many other related buildings in that area.
You’ll start your tour at Metro St Paul (line 1), and after a quick meet and greet with your guide and fellow visitors, you’ll set off towards the Rue des Rosiers, known to many as Paris’ Jewish quarter, because of the strong Ashkenaze presence since the end of the 19th century. Among many beautiful things, you’ll also walk past the oldest synagogue in France, on number 25 of this street.
Following this introduction, it’ll be time to understand how the Marais ended up being synonymous with the LGBTQI+ community. Through the Rue du Plâtre you’ll walk past what used to be the first gay bar in Paris, discover the Rue des Archives and its many luxury men’s fashion stores (Galliano, Gucci, Valentino, Givenchy...). Famous for its nightlife, this area is full of LGBT bars and clubs (such as the Open Café, the Cox...) of which you’ll get to discover a few. We’ll also cover why this area is still changing very much, with the gay community moving more to other areas of Paris (and around) since a few years. More importantly, you’ll get to understand how the Marais will always remain a symbol of social progress throughout the ages.
Right afterwards, you’ll be amazed by a beautiful and mostly unknown garden to most parisians, an ideal place for pictures and a relaxing moment before the walk continues; the Jardin des Archives de Paris, known for its strong ecosystem and biodiversity. Bees are being kept there and taken care of to ensure the best pollination possible of the many different plants and flowers visible there.
We’ll finish the tour with the discovery of perhaps one of the most special places in Paris, the 400 year-old covered market, the “Marché des Enfants Rouges”, established in 1615. After a brief introduction and some insider tips from your guide, we’ll conclude with a celebratory drink at a famous spot, and the first round is on us!