The walk starts at
Place de la Bastille dominated
by the
[1] Colonne de
Juillet, topped with a magnificent sculpture personifying a
winged
Liberté.
Head on down to 18 Boulevard Henri IV where you will find the
barracks of the elite
Gardes
Republicaines. You may even be lcuky enough to see this elite
mounted cabalry, with their plumed helmets, white breeches and
crimson-piped blue uniforms. (The barracks are usually open to the
public for several weeks in Autumn).
Cross the road and continue up Rue de Petit Musc. You are now in
the centre of a very old (pre 14th century) religious
faubourg (or neighborhood). Turn left, then right into rue
Beautrellis and then left into rue Neuve Saint Pierre. On Southern
(Seine) side was the cemetery of the old church of Saint Paul.
At the T intersection is rue Saint Paul, the frontage for
[3] Village Saint Paul, a
warren of medieval courtyards and the home of an extensive bric-a-
brac market. However, on Saint Paul itself, don't miss
Musee
de la Magie [#11] or
Red Wheelbarrow
Bookstore [#22], one of the best English-language bookshops
in Paris.
Now turn right into rue de L'Avé Maria. On your right, running
parallel to the Rue des Jardins Saint Paul, is the oldest wall in
Paris - the remains of the 12th-century city wall of Philippe
Auguste.
On the corner of rue de l"Hotel de Ville and rue de Figuier is the
[4] Hôtel de
Sens, one of only three medieval private residences
remaining in Paris,
Continue into rue de Fourcy where the
[5]
Maison Européenne de la Photographie [5-7 rue de Fourcy]
is located, with collections of modern photography from around the
world.
Now cross the busy rue Saint-Antoine, up to rue Pavee to
[6] rue de Rosiers, the centre
of the old Jewish area of Marais, with kosher restaurants, bookshops,
boulangeries and charcuteries. A very popular lunch-time place (eat
in or take away) is
L'As du Falafel at #34 rue de
Rosiers.
Continue on up Pavee and turn right into Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
At the next intersection [cnr of Rue de Sevigne and Francs
Bourgeois] is the
[7]
Musee Carnavalet [23, rue de Sévigneé], a
museum dedicated to the history of Paris,
recalling the architectural evolution, the historical events, the
social and artistic life of the capital.
Continue along Francs Bourgeois, one of the few areas of Paris where
the shops are legally allowed to be open on Sundays. Turn right at
Rue de Turenne and return to Rue Saint Antoine. 50 metres along on
the left is the
[8] Hôtel de
Sully. Walk through the gates, across the courtyard into
the building and out to the rear courtyard. From here, enter the
[9] Place
des Vosges - the oldest square in Paris, constructed
between 1605 and 1612. Victor Hugo's residence is #6, in the South
East corner.
Find your way back to rue Saint Antoine, then left into rue des
Tournelles and right into rue de Bastille. At #5-7 is
[10]
Bofinger [#5-7], one of the top brasseries in
Paris. The walk finishes where it started, at
Place de la
Bastille.
