Le Marais, Paris

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One of the most beautiful Jewish temples in Paris, la Grande Synagogue de la Victoire dates from 1875. It was designed by the architect Alfred-Philibert Aldrophe in a stunning mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine styles. The Synagogue is located on rue de la Victoire, a narrow street in the Marais district, not too far from Place de la Bastille. Unfortunately, I walked past it on a Saturday, so it was closed (I am uncertain if it is open for visits outside of the Jewish Sabbath).

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Located in the heart of the Marais, l'Hôtel d'Albret is one of many old hôtels particuliers in the district. It was built in the middle of the 16th century and underwent changes and expansions as it changed hands in the following centuries. One notable architect who worked on Hôtel d'Albret is François Mansart, who also worked on other nearby mansions such as Hôtel Carnavalet. Today, Hôtel d'Albret houses La Direction des Affaires Culturelles (Ministry of Cultural Affairs) which often hosts concerts and other events, particularly in its courtyard in summer months.

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Commissioned by King Louis XIII in 1627, église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis was originally built for the Jesuits. Its first official name was église Saint-Louis de la maison professe des Jésuites, but later also took on "Saint Paul" after a nearby church dedicated to Saint Paul, which was destroyed in 1796. The church's design was heavily influenced by Italian architecture, but with French touches, and deviates tremendously from typical Gothic churches of Paris. The dome was one of the first in Paris and the façade resembles that of the nearby church of Saint Gervais, which was completed only a decade earlier. In October 2008, église Saint-Paul Saint-Louis stuck out like a sore thumb amid surrounding buildings due to its blackened façade. It seemed as though somehow it escaped the meticulous cleaning that the rest of Paris underwent over the past two decades and is a reminder of how Paris looked up to the 1980s. The top of the church was covered in scaffolding which makes me believe its restoration is about to begin.

The distinctive Gothic conical tower of this small building in le Marais is all that remains from the original Hôtel d'Hérouet. It was built around 1520 by Jean d'Hérouet, a treasurer of the king, but modified heavily over the years. In World War II, the mansion was partially destroyed in a bombing and was hastily reconstructed in the form we see today.

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Founded in the 4th century AD, the church dedicated to Saints Gervasius and Protasius is one of the oldest in Paris. The ancient church was rebuilt beginning in 1494 and modified for the next two centuries to the form we see today. The conflicting styles of its Classical Baroque façade - one of the first in Paris - and the flamboyant Gothic of the interior and the back, is a result of changing trends during its construction. The façade, which was only just uncovered after extensive restoration, dates from 1621 and inspired a trend for future churches in Paris. The apse contains some of the most beautiful stained glass windows that gloriously light up the interior while interesting looking gargoyles guard the exterior. The bright interior is unlike most Gothic churches in Paris which tend to be dark and somber. Église Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais is celebrated for having one of the rarest organs in Paris. It is located in a small square right behind l'Hôtel de Ville.

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The grand palace named Hôtel de Soubise was built in 1708 for le prince de Soubise in a high Classical French architectural design. It replaced an older palace called l'Hôtel de Guise, dating from 1554, which in turn had replaced a mediaeval castle-palace called l'Hôtel de Clisson. A section of the latter dating from 1380, complete with its conical towers and Gothic portal, was spared two destructions and has been preserved as a wing of l'Hôtel de Soubise overlooking rue des Archives (see photos). This section is considered the only remaining 14th century example of residential architecture in Paris. In 1808, Napoléon turned this palace into les Archives Nationales (National Archives) and built a large annex behind the palace to house the voluminous archives. The older section of the palace was subsequently joined with the neighbouring Hôtel de Rohan and turned into le musée de l'Histoire de France.

I was traveling through Paris in June of 2008 and decided to take a walking tour of the city as I had only a few days there. Having been to Paris before, I wanted to stay away from the more typical tours of things (i.e. the Eiffel Tower) and found Aeon. They had a tour of the Marais that was fantastic. I got to see a neighborhood in a way that I never would have wandering it solo. Definitely one of the best things I did during my stay.

If you go to Le Marais you cannot miss eating a shawrma at this place. It is has gotten bigger lately and has lost some of its old charm but they still make the best shawarma in Paris if not the world!!