Balade dans un vieux quartier de Paris : le Marais

A hike in the region Ile-de-France

You will discover one of the most beautiful and ancient quarter of Paris in this walk, through parks, and along the facades of particular hotels. Several of them have become prestigious museums, as Picasso's museum.

The end of the walk is Saint Paul's station. You can come back to the starting point by subway (direction Château de Vincennes and change at Bastille).

Information

General points

• Geographic situation. District : Paris 3e (department Paris)
                                     Road map with
• Starting point : Metro station Filles du Calvaire (line Balard-Creteil).
• The length of the stroll is estimated at 1,7 Km and the walk duration is about 1 h 30 mn.
• The stroll is not marked out or only partially
• Stroll form : linear
  Remark about linear strolls : the duration of walk and the road-book are presented for one-way direction. Distance and time should be doubled when one goes and back.
• Stroll relief : flat (alt. mini = 35 m ; alt. maxi = 37 m)
• Exposure : open (a sun protection might be foreseen)

Noteworthy places

1- Le Cirque d'Hiver. The Winter Circus is a twenty sides polygon built by Jacques Hittorf in 1852. Its original name was Napoleon's Circus. It is the unique covered circus in Paris. This place, dedicated to the arts of circus, has received renowned people as Bouglionne or Fratellini brothers. It is also used as a hall for concerts, spectacles, etc.

2- Saint-Denis du Saint-Sacrement. This is a neoclassic church, built in 1835 by the architect Godde. You can see a facade with a peristyle including four Ionic columns and above a triangular pediment, on which sculptures are allegories of Faith, Hope, and Charity. The door is flanked by two recesses in which are nested the statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The church has also a painting by Delacroix representing the Deposition from the Cross.

3- Hôtel Salé - Musée Picasso. This particular hotel got its name from Pierre Aubert, who was Lord of Fontenay under Louis XIII and was in charge to collect the salt tax. Jean de Bouiller was the architect of this house which was built between 1656 and 1660. Inside, sculptured decorations and the main staircase are remarkable. For a while, the hotel became the embassy to the Republic of Venice, then it was a famous French college, l'Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures. Since 1985, it is Picasso's museum.

4- Hôtel Libéral Bruand. This hotel was built at the end of the XVIIth century by Liberal Bruant, architect.

5- Square Léopold Achile. This public garden is also called Square Parc-Royal. It dates from 1913. You can see François the First's blazon and a statue which was brought there from the former City Hall.

6- Hôtel de Chatillon. Built at the end of the XVIth century, this hotel takes its name from Madam de Chatillon. Inside, one can admire a remarkable freestone corner stair.

7- Square Goerges Cain. The public garden Georges Cain, situated in front of the Swedish Cultural Institute, presents a sound system by Erik Samakh: le Rossignol de Heinz (Heinz's Nightingale).

8- Hôtel de Marle. This particular hotel was built at the end of the XVIth century, and it is now the office of the Swedish Cultural Institute.

9- Hôtel de Donon. Hotel Donon was built for Médéric de Donon, at the end of the XVIth century. He was general controller of King's properties. The City Hall of Paris purchased it in 1974, and, in 1986, it became the museum Cognac-Jay.

10- Musée Carnavalet. Carnavalet Hotel is included in the same complex as Hotel Peletier de Saint-Fargeau. Carnavalet's style is Renaissance, whereas the other one dates from the XVIth-XVIIth centuries. Low-reliefs are by Jean Goujon. A statue of Louis XIV has been erected in the courtyard. The museum has more than 100 rooms dedicated to Paris history.

11- Place des Vosges. This place, with its Renaissance style, goes back to the beginning of the XVIIth century. In this time, the king Henry IV wanted to give people of Paris a place of relaxation. He called on the most famous architects such as Louis Métézeau or Le Vau to draw the blueprint of this place, which was named then Place Royale. It was inaugurated on the occasion of the wedding of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. After the Revolution, it was renamed Place des Vosges by Napoleon, in homage to the first department - les Vosges - which had paid its taxes.

12- Hôtel de Béthune-Sully. This Renaissance hotel was built for Mesme Gallet, a financier, at the beginning of the XVIIth century. Latter, it was purchased by Maximilien de Béthune, who had been Minister of Finances under Henry IV. It stayed in the ownership of the family until the French Revolution. It was bought by the State in 1944 and became the head office of he Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques et des Sites (i.e., the French office having in charge historical monnuments).

13- Eglise Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. This XVIIth century church has a style which combines the Italian and French schools. Among its architectural characteristics, we can note: a Latin cross design, a short apse, and a 55 metres high dome. Its facade merges Gothic with Dutch and Italian styles. Inside, you can admire a painting by Delacroix, which depicts Christ suffering the agony in the olive trees garden, and a sculpture by Pilon, "la Vierge douloureuse" (the Sorrowful Virgin).