A Day in the Marais
Morning
Begin the morning at the
Musée Carnavalet
, to beat the crowds and allow
enough time to view the impressive collections. There is also a lovely
garden courtyard. Afterwards, walk to the place des Vosges. Stand in the
centre near the fountains to take in the whole square.
Have a coffee at Ma Bourgogne (19 pl des Vosges01 42 78 44 64), right on the square. Afterwards, tour the Maison de Victor Hugo, then go to the southwest corner of the square, through a wooden door to the pretty garden of the
Hôtel de Sully
. Then walk to place de la Bastille.
A good lunch choice is
Bofinger
, with its ornate decor and true Parisian feel.
Afternoon
The
Place de la Bastille
is something of a traffic
nightmare, but take time to admire the column in the centre and
contemplate the events that happened here when this was the site of the
city’s dreaded prison. Walk around the square and along rue
Faubourg-St-Antoine, a now fashionable shopping street. Turn off down
some of the passageways to see the furniture-makers and craft workshops
that have a long history in the area.
From here it’s not far to the Gare de Lyon and dinner in style beneath the chandeliers and frescoes of Le Train Bleu (20 blvd Diderot01 43 43 09 06).
Shops
Izraël Also
called the “World of Spices,” this is a treasure trove of the world’s
best food and drink. Tiny but packed with meat, cheese, wine, rum,
dates, honey, mustard… it has to be seen. BHV The
Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville is an upmarket all-round shopper’s paradise
at which you can track down everything from DIY products to stylish
underwear. Antoine et Lili Vibrant and eclectic clothes for women inspired by tzigane and Oriental styles using colourful natural fabrics. Autour du Monde Stylish
clothes and objects for the home from French designer Bensimon. The
canvas sneakers in pastel colours for kids and adults are a classic. Florence Finkelsztajn
This shop offers a range of cakes with freshly baked rye bread and a deli.
Buzz
For the ultimate in contemporary Parisian interior design, this trendy boutique
is an unmissable delight. Isabel Marant A designer better known to Parisians than overseas, her work is hip but elegant. Aladine Fabulous
displays of old kitchenware, boxes, jars, ashtrays… anything with a
colourful old advertisement on it, from the 1960s back to whatever the
owner can get her hands on. L’Atelier Boulanger du Marais Along with the traditional products on offer here are more unusual flavours such as a raisin rye bread. Emery & Cie Stylish, coloured ceramics, tiles, lamps and other goods, run by an interior decorator.
Specialist Shops
The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore An English-language bookshop where you can pick up that translated French classic you may have been inspired to read. André Bissonnet A
delightful hidden treasure is this shop/workshop where the owner
lovingly restores antique musical instruments such as trumpets, harps
and violins.
André Bissonnet
La Chaiserie du Faubourg Bastille has always been the area for furniture makers, and this chair repair shop keeps the tradition alive. Pasta Linea Visit
for fresh pasta dishes made in-house from organic Italian flour. Not
much seating, but the leafy Place des Vosges is nearby. The Filofax Centre The name says it all, for the ubiquitous binder that palmtop organizers have not ousted completely. L’Art du Bureau If
your desk is your altar, you’ll find everything you could possibly need
here, and it’s all in the most modern designs. In fact, this shop is
worth visiting for the design aspects alone. Librairie l’Arbre à Lettres Beautiful bookshop, though the content is on the serious side, concentrating on art, philosophy and politics.
Librairie l’Arbre à Lettres
A l’Olivier For 150 years this shop has specialized in all kinds of oil, from the finest olive oil to massage oil. Papeterie Saint Sabin Parisian stationery shops are a class apart, and here you will find stylish notebooks, pens, pads and other tasteful items. A la Petite Fabrique This shop doesn’t just sell chocolate, you can watch it being made. More than 40 flavours and novelty chocolates in all shapes.
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