SOURCE: FODORS

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THE MARAIS

From swampy to swanky, the Marais has a fascinating history. Like an aging pop star, thequartier has remade itself many times, and today retains several identities. It’s the city's epicenter of cool with hip boutiques, designer hotels, and art galleries galore; the hub of Paris's gay community; and, though fading, the nucleus of Jewish life. You could easily spend your entire visit to Paris in

 

this neighborhood—there is that much to do.

“Marais" means marsh, and that is exactly what this area was until the 12th century, when it was converted to farmland. In 1605 Henri IV began building the Place Royale (today's Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris), which touched off a building boom, and the wealthy and fabulous moved in. Despite the odors—the area was one of the city's smelliest—it remained the chic quarter until Louis XIV transferred his court to Versailles, trailed by dispirited aristocrats unhappy to decamp to the country. Merchants moved into their exquisitehôtels particuliers (private mansions), which are some of the city's best surviving examples of Baroque architecture. Here you can see the hodgepodge of narrow streets that so vexed Louis Napoléon and his sidekick, Baron Haussmann, who feared a redux of the famousbarricades that Revolutionaries threw up to thwart the monarchy. Haussmann leveled scores of blocks like these, creating the wide, arrow-straight avenues that are a hallmark of modern Paris. Miraculously, the Marais escaped destruction, though much of it fell victim to neglect and ruin. Thanks to restoration efforts over the past half century, the district is enjoying its latest era of greatness, and the apartments here—among the city's oldest—are also the most in demand, with beaucoup charm, exposed beams, and steep crooked staircases barely wide enough for a supermodel. (Should you be lucky enough to find an elevator, don't expect it to fit your suitcase.) Notice the impressive portes cochères, the huge doors built to accommodate aristocratic carriages that today open into many sublime courtyards and hidden gardens.

The 4e arrondissement, the Marais's glitzier half, is sandwiched between two opposite poles—the regal Place des Vosges in the east and the eye-teasing modern masterpiece Centre Pompidou in the west. Between these points you'll find most of the main sites, including theMusée Picasso, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, and the Musée Carnavalet,which is the best place to see how the city evolved through the ages. To tour an exquisitely restored 17th-century hôtel particulier, visit the excellent Musée Cognacq-Jay or wander into the manicured back garden of the magnificent Hôtel de Sully. To the north, the quieter 3e arrondissement is a lovely neighborhood to explore. Techies will appreciate a stop at theMusée des Arts and Métiers, Europe's oldest science museum.

Paris's Jewish quarter has existed here in some form since the 13th century, and still thrives around Rue des Rosiers, even as hip boutiques encroach on the traditional bakeries, delis, and falafel shops. Not far away is the beating heart of the gay Marais, radiating out from Rue Vieille du Temple, along Rue St-Croix de la Bretonnerie to Rue du Temple, where you can find trendy cafés, shops, and cool nightspots aimed at gays but welcoming to all.

The 3e arrondissement half of the Marais, around Rue de Bretagne, has evolved into one of Paris's most in-demand areas to live—and one of the most interesting areas to explore. Here you can find art galleries, boutiques, and funky cafés or bars off the tourist track.