Le Marais

Tour curated by: Lily Andersson, Leigh Poetzsch, Lourdes Arana, Caroline Fletcher

Le Marais, situated in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris, is considered one of the city's most culturally diverse neighborhoods. Boasting unique street art, upscale shops, delicious restaurants, and many historical sites, Le Marais is a prime example of how cultural gentrification and the preservation of tradition can coexist. Today, Le Marais is home to one of the largest Jewish quarters in Paris, which is observed through the many authentic falafel stands, Kosher restaurants, and synagogues dotting the streets of Le Marais. Additionally, Le Marais is the center of LGBT life in Paris, and establishments such as an LGBT bookstore and LGBT shops help bring this culture to life. Historically, Le Marais has also been a haven for aristocrats, and the ornate mansions still standing in Le Marais serve as physical reminders of this aristocratic history.
By exploring the streets of Le Marais and the wide variety of shops, restaurants, and historical buildings that inhabit them, the many different cultures thriving in Le Marais are strikingly evident.

Locations for Tour

Nestled on the outskirts of the Marais district, in the historic Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, lies the Museum of Jewish Art and History. This museum highlights the history, art, and culture of not only French Jews but Jews from all over Europe and North…

While Le Marais is now home to countless upscale boutiques, art galleries, and unique restaurants, the neighborhood's history as the center of Jewish culture in Paris continues to define Le Marais today. Despite Le Marais' constantly…

The impressive stain glass windows of the Tournelles Synagogue are quite unassuming as you walk down the Rue des Tournelles, it's only once you stand directly in front of the building that you can grasp the full magnitude of its beauty. The…

The location of the once world-famous Jo Goldenberg restaurant, famous both for its symbolic nature and its tragic past, now sits empty. The restaurant was opened by Jo Goldenberg, a Holocaust survivor who lost his entire family at the Auschwitz…

Our next stop on our walking tour of the Marais is a site iconic to the Marais- The Place des Vosges. This park is a destination for many people who travel to Paris and is simply a can’t miss. “One of the world’s few great squares that really is a…

The Hotel de Ville, one of Paris' most iconic, historic buildings, is situated in the heart of Le Marais. Standing at the center of the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, The Hôtel de Ville serves as a magnificently large physical reminder of Le…

Today, the Museum of Hunting and Nature is one of Paris' most unique attractions, boasting one of a kind collections such as taxidermy animals, beautiful sculptures, and a wide array of hunting weapons. However, the building that is now home to…

The Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, situated in the heart of Le Marais, is one of the streets most starkly effected by the mass gentrification and modernization of this historic French neighborhood. Throughout history, Le Marais has served as one of the…

The Rue des Archives, much like the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, is one of the most popular shopping streets in Le Marais. This street, which is lined with many designer and high end clothing store, serves as another prime example of the mass…

The Archives Nationales, located at 60 Rue des Francs Bourgeois in Le Marais, was allocated to the Hôtel de Soubise in 1808 by Napoleon to ensure a concrete place to house all of France's important archival documents. In 1867, the reception…

Le Marais has evolved throughout the years and many are surprised to learn that the neighborhood is not only the center of Jewish life in France, but it is also the home of the LGBTQ community. During the rebellion of May 1968, students and the…

When considering the LGBTQ presence in Le Marais it is important to highlight the commercial aspect that initially drew in the LGBTQ community. Businesses in Le Marais were open to the LGBTQ public, accepting them as customers and displaying the…

In 1978 the first gay bar opened in Le Marais. The bar was open during the day and during the night, and it provided a new alternative for the LGBTQ community that had been living in the shadows of the city. Sadly, this bar no longer exists and it…

For as long as we know women have lived in a world dominated by men and forced to live under strict rules. Oppression has reduced women and forced them into what women, gender, and sexuality scholars call a double bind. On one side, if a woman…

When people think about France they associate the country with less conservative values and greater acceptance of others. However, it did not use to be this way and there is still a long way to go until homophobia is no longer a reality. Although…

The Centre LGBT started out as an initiative to fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis in the late 1900’s. It was originally named House of Homosexualities and it was renamed Center gay and lesbian CGL of Paris in 1993 (Eribon). What started out as a…

If you were walking down the street and saw Le Comptoir de Mathilde you would immediately be drawn in by the unusual structure of the shop, since the outside is modeled like a Medieval Parisian house. The shop gives the illusion that it has a timber…

While I was researching about LGBTQ life in Le Marais I stumbled across an article titled “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Gay Paris.” One of the items that captured my attention was a bakery in the neighborhood that sold phallic-shaped baguettes…