Paris Trendy Marais away from the crowds, Mansions and Fashion
Description
We show you why Marais is the favorite neighborhood of the Parisians. There's the backdrop. Aristocratic Mansions. Secluded Gardens. Old Stones. There's the scene. The art galeries. The foods. The designer workshops. There's the Jewish culture. Old History. Nazi persecutions. Present-day culture. Ashkenazi and Sephardic cultures. There's the LGBT culture. Marais is where it all started, in the early 1980's. There's the history. World War II. The mad lifestyle of the aristocrats before the French Revolution. The medieval pockets of Le Marais. And there's the people. Fashionable Parisians. The Curious. And then the clueless visitors from "the provinces". You will engage in people-watching. This is what Parisians do in Le Marais. We walk rain or shine. Small groups. In English. Your guide is in a pink vest.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hôtel des Sens, a beautifully preserved medieval mansion in the Marais, offers a glimpse into Paris' rich past. Built in the late 15th century, its Gothic architecture, pointed arches, and lush garden transport visitors back in time. Once home to the Archbishop of Sens, it’s now open to the public as a historic landmark, inviting visitors to explore its enchanting courtyard and admire its ancient charm.
Le Village Saint-Paul is a hidden gem in the Marais, offering a maze of charming courtyards filled with antique shops, art galleries, and cafes. This quiet enclave feels worlds away from busy Paris streets, inviting visitors to browse unique finds and soak in its relaxed, historical atmosphere.
Place des Vosges, Paris' oldest planned square, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Its red-brick facades, manicured lawns, and arcades make it a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Marais district.
Hôtel de Sully, a grand 17th-century mansion, boasts beautiful gardens, a stunning courtyard, and a unique connection to Place des Vosges. Its classical architecture and peaceful atmosphere invite visitors to explore its historical charm, while its art exhibitions add a cultural touch.
Rue des Rosiers is a vibrant street in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, known for its historic bakeries, falafel stands, and trendy boutiques. This lively area offers a mix of culture, history, and delicious food, with a bustling atmosphere that reflects the Marais' multicultural spirit.
Pletzl is the traditional Jewish quarter in Paris' Marais district, filled with kosher delis, bakeries, and shops rich in Jewish culture. Its narrow streets and unique shops reflect the neighborhood’s heritage, offering a historical yet vibrant Paris experience.
Hôtel de Sens, a medieval mansion with dramatic architecture and lush gardens, takes visitors back to Paris' past. Built in the late 15th century for the Archbishop of Sens, its unique Gothic design and enchanting courtyard make it a standout historical site in the Marais.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(21)
The walking tour was amazing, you could tell the attention to the detail in the explanations given. Plus, several tips for restaurants and places to go in our time in Paris were given as well. I’d recommend it for sure for any Paris visitors.
Our Guide, Phillip, did a great job! Texas very knowledgeable and socially engaging. In spite of the rain, this tour was great!
Horrible! Very poor english...and not a true official guide. Wrong informations or no informations at all in front of the most important mansions.... Run away!!!
My tour was excellent. I’m glad I took it at the beginning of my trip. I learned history and context that I otherwise would not have. I was also able to decide what I wanted to return to and/or if I had seen enough. My guide was engaging and willing to answer questions throughout. I highly recommend it!
We learned so much about the history of Maurais. Our guide was so pleasant and articulate. She pointed out many things we would have missed and also gave us a greater depth of understanding of what we saw. Well worth the time!
Our Discover Walks tour of the Marais was wonderful! We saw many sights that would often be overlooked, and our guide was very informative and pleasant. The pace was great for our small group, allowing time for stories, history, cultural backgrounds, and fun facts. Our guide even gave suggestions and directions after the tour ended. We left with a more enlightened view of this interesting and popular neighborhood of Paris.
Very kind and knowledgeable guide- helpful to see a few sights we would have missed if on our own. Well worth the price of the tip.
It was a good tour. We learnt interesting stuff about the area and history. The recommended falafel place for lunch in Jewish quarter was amazing.
Great experience. Friendly, knowledgeable guide. Tour of only some of the highlights of the Marais - still a ton to explore.
Our guide was great — knowledgeable, patient and excited to share with us. It was a small group and extremely enjoyable. We learned so many interesting facts and saw so many things that I am sure we never would have seen on our own. Absolutely worth your time, and our only regret was not doing it earlier in our stay.
We loved our walking tour of the Marais! Although we have visited and stayed in the area before Phillipe offered us a whole new perspective on the Marais. Its rich history, secret corners, famous residents, beautiful gardens and wonderful stories about the history of the architecture and a glimpse into the many challenges this neighbourhood has faced. He shared his favourite bakery and a wonderful Falafel restaurant where we ended up having a delicious lunch. Thanks again for a memorable tour! Sheila & Tim
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Best tour ever. I loved how she continued the history and story from one site to another. Highly recommend. All the sites were so lovely. She gave detailed information for all the sites
Our walk with Margot was excellent. Her explanations had a great mixture of history, culture and humour that made the time we spent with her so interesting. It was very obvious that she had spent quality time on her research and the visual aids. Her pdf guide to Paris was also quite good. Thank you Margot !
The guide used humour and showed a lot of knowledge. This combination proved itself. We enjoyed ourselves. The group was a combination of different ages and nationalities and that was quite fine. Apparently we all share the same interest concerning discovering the city which is great.
We had a very informative guided tour of Le Marais and a Jewish Tour. Our guide, Garrett, was terrific. He was very knowledgeable. The pace was excellent, and all the participants were very respectful of the rest. Garrett was not scripted and replied thoroughly and interesting to many questions.
Edmund had a personal connection to the Marais and his interest and appreciation shone through. It was a delightful walk and we learned a lot.
What a fantastic tour!! Edmund was delightful and full of fun facts about the beauty we were seeing!! I’ve been to Paris several times but still learned so much!!
Achilles did a great tour. It was funny and informative with details only a local would know. Achilles was helpful with restaurant recommentations at the end.
I had a great time walking around le marais with Liza ! She gave us very precise dates and details about the history of Paris in general, so we could understand the context every place we would walk through had been constructed in and how it was frequented. After this walk I really felt like I understood a bit more how Paris is such a great city fuelled of art and history. The jewish part of le marais was the end and the climax of the tour. Liza gave us a complete experience, full of emotion, it felt like we did a travel into time. Thank you for this tour ! I was solo and never really felt alone so I recommand.