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After having had a nice cup of coffee and some croissants as a quick breakfast, we wandered into the quarter called the 'Marais'. Our first stop was the 'Place des Voges', and what a wonderful surprise this was. I hadn't been here before, but it stole my heart right away. The tranquillity of the square combined with the symmetry of the park and the surrounding buildings is a feast for the eyes. The sun had come out, making the red bricks of the houses look more vividly of colour. I am not really surprised that some people call this one of the most beautiful squares in the world, although I don't think this is a 100% true. But it certainly IS a beautiful square and not to be missed during a visit to Paris.
In total there are 36 houses, nine on each side, build in red brick, with large symmetric windows and steep roofs with those large chimneys that I like so much. Some says there are 39 houses in total though, hahaha, I guess it all depends what you call a 'house' I haven't even tried counting them, for me the total effect of it all was what took my breathe away. Leave a Comment Address: Place des VosgesDirections: Place des Vosges In the quarter 'Marais' 3rd and 4th Arrondissement Métro stop: Bastille, Chemin Vert or St-PaulWebsite: http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Vosges/
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In 1605 - 1612 Henri IV had this beautiful square build and called it Place Royale. The square got its new name in 1799 and was renamed after the 'Department of the Vosges', which is a part of France near the German border. Of course the renaming had a good reason; money! The Vosges was the first to pay its taxes to a particular military campaign; and I guess that that is good enough reason as any to get the honour of having a square named after it ;-)
But let’s forget all these facts about the square and get back to the here and now, and start to look around. The square, which is now a little park, is beautiful, with several fountains, symmetric paths crossing through the park from one side to the other, old trees that filter the light of the sun in a magical way, and a large statue of Louis XIII in the middle. Just sit down on one of the benches and take it all in. While looking around you probably be surprised by all the details you'll see, like the old lanterns placed around and on the square that caught my eye. They look so romantic and fit so perfectly in the atmosphere of it all.
In the photos you can see a small impression of the park. Leave a Comment Address: Place des VosgesDirections: Place des Vosges In the quarter 'Marais' 3rd and 4th Arrondissement Métro stop: Bastille, Chemin Vert or St-PaulWebsite: http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Vosges/
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Situated in the heart of the Marais, the Place de Vosges is both Paris' oldest square and arguably its most beautiful. Begun in 1605 as residences for courtiers in the service of Henri IV and completed in 1612, with arcaded buildings in brick and creamy stone facing into a cool, green linden-tree-lined formal garden it really is a delight. In its heyday, the garden was THE place to go, to see and be seen - though a darker side was to be seen at dawn - this was where duellists came to play out their deadly games. The fashionable followed the court and many magnificent houses were built in the surrounding streets, but fashion is fickle, and when Louis XIV moved the court to Versailles, the area soon fell from favour to become a somewhat forgotten backwater, left to its own devices. As other quartiers were developed into the elegant Paris most people recognize today, the Marais stayed rooted in the past, a Sleeping Beauty awaiting her Prince.
It wasn't until the 1960s that Paris woke the late-Renaissance treasure sleeping there. The Marais was declared an historic preservation district and today the area is very fashionable once more. The arcades around the Place de Vosges are lined with cafes and ultra-smart boutiques, and elegant young mamans bring their children to play in the garden. Some of the wonderful houses nearby have become museums and every street has its own speciality shop or gallery. You could spend days exploring the quartier, but even if you have only a few hours to spare, do make time to sit in the square, either in the garden (it's free) or at one of the many cafes or restaurants, and take in some of the atmosphere of this corner of the city.
leyle Leave a Comment Directions: Metro; St Paul, Chemin-vert or Bastille
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This is where I unexpectedly heard two soprano voices singing opera arias, as described on my Paris intro page.
Second, third and fourth photos: Singing under the arches.
Fifth photo: A year later, in June 2007, there is a new café under the arches at the corner where the singers and musicians used to perform.
At least six other VT members have seen and heard people playing classical music under the arches at Place des Vosges.
--tini58de has a photo of a fantastic Mozart concert given by a group of young people -- that was my very personal highlight!
--ptitetoile also has a photo of musicians playing classical music...the acoustic is wonderful!!!!
--jakiline has a photo of a string orchestra, the classique metropolitain orchestra, playing Vivaldi under the arches.
--Beausoleil has also mentioned hearing classical music played under the arcades at the Place des Vosges. (She and her husband were staying at Hotel des Vosges on rue de Birague. From their hotel room window they often heard classical music coming up from under the arcades. "It was wonderful.")
--At the same place, tiabunna came across a group of young musicians playing one of Bach’s Brandenburg concertos to an appreciative audience -- and doing an excellent job of it.
--sachara wrote in a comment: "And yes, I heard classical music under the arches of Places de Vosges as well." Leave a Comment Directions: 48°51'18.36" North; 2°21'55.95" East Métro Bastille, Chemin Vert Bus 29, 96
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The Place des Vosges is probably the most beautiful square in Paris. Everything matches perfectly. The buildings are brick and stone and you can walk around the entire square under the arcade. In the center is a beautiful little park with statues, fountains, grass, seats and a play area for children. This is surrounded by perfectly trimmed linden trees so all activity is framed.
You'll see lots of well-off Parisians with their beautifully dressed children passing the afternoon there. There are several nice restaurants, many art galleries and the Maison de Victor Hugo . . . not to mention classical music played under the arcades! Leave a Comment Address: Place des Vosges in the 4th ArrondissementDirections: Stepping off point to the Marais and perfect walk-through to the Picasso Museum.
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If you're a fan of old manses or of Hugo's work (Les Miserables or Nôtre-Dame de Paris otherwise known in the US as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, thanks Disney!) then this would be a cool spot for you.
This is a very maneuverable museum with a lovely old, creaking, sideways-slanted wooden staircase. Inside are the accoutrements of the writer showing his house as when he lived there. One interesting thing I learned here was that Hugo's son, Charles, was an artist and his works show in the Musée d’Orsay. This is an easy 1-hour tour.
Métro : Chemin-Vert, Saint-Paul, Bastille.
Bus : 20, 29, 65, 69 et 96.
Open every day except Monday from 10am-5:40pm
E-mail: maisonsvictorhugo@mairie-paris.fr
Carte Musées et Monuments accepted here.
Nearby is the lovely Café/Salon de Thé, Nectarine which serves inexpensive sweet & savory crêpes on a terrasse.
Photos: April 2003 & Feb 2006 Leave a Comment Address: 6 Place des Vosges, Paris, France 75004Phone: 01 42 72 10 16Directions: 5 minutes west of the Place Bastille in the 4th arrondissement (Marais district) along rue St-Antoine. Turn right on rue Birague for a magical entrance through the Renaissance-era archway ~ located in the southeast corner of the Place des Vosges.Website: http://www.paris.fr/musees/Maison_de_Victor_Hugo/V Other Contact: 01 42 72 06 64 Fx#
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The oldest square in Paris is a wonderful green place adorned with statues and fountains and surrounded by interesting buildings with arcades.
The 36 houses have still the same original look: two storey with two-colors bricks and stone, groundfloor arcades and a roof with dormer windows. Directions: M: Bastille (lines 1, 5 and 8)
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We visited Place des Vosges because that was where our restaurant was located (L'Ambroise). Little did we know what we would have missed had we not made those reservations.
Place des Vosges is a beautiful, quiet, perfectly square area with beautiful mansions that surround a charming park area. Among the many notables who have lived in the mansions was Victor Hugo. There is a Victor Hugo Museum at No. 6 that you should stop in to enjoy.
There is a statue of Louis XIII on horseback in the center of the square, which is a copy of the original that was destroyed during the revolution. Address: Place des Vosges
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Definitely my favorite place in Paris!! Right in the middle of the Marais district is a beautiful square…Surrounded by red brick and cream colored houses of brilliant architecture, this green, tree-lined façade in the middle of bustling Paris…is an awe-inspiring place to visit! Whether you wish to visit the house of Victor Hugo, to walk around and admire the ‘perfect square’, its arcade and art galleries, lie down on the grass and relaxing after a long day, or eat in one of the delicious and trendy restaurants/bistros around…The Place des Vosges has it all - The best urban open-space I have seen! Leave a Comment Address: Marais districtDirections: - Close to the metro station Saint-Paul on line 1. Walk to it from: - Bastille Opera (10 min.) - Centre Pampidou (15 min.) - Notre-Dame Cathedral (20 min.)
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This is a beautiful planned square of a former royal residence in the Marais in Paris. The royal quarters were divided between the King (Pavillon de la Roi) and the Queen (Pavillon de la Reine). The latter is now exemplified by a deluxe hôtel of the same name on this square.
Before I reached my hotel last trip, I sauntered through the Place des Vosges to see what it looked like. As I walked down rue Birague I took a pic of the archway entrance to the Place des Vosges then turned to take one of the cute Hôtel de la Place des Vosges located at 12 rue Birague.
While I meandered around the Place with my rolling suitcase behind me, I noticed a chic, young maman coaxing bébé to slide down a 2-foot 30º angle slide. Next was watching a little 3- or 4-year old expertly kicking around a soccer ball.
The very famous bistro, Ma Bourgogne, is located on this square but for simpler fare with simpler prices you might wish to try Nectarine (Restaurant - Salon de Thé, 16 Place des Vosges ~ ph# 01 42 77 23 78) for sitting on the terrasse and sampling sweet & savory crêpes.
Also nearby for you Les Miserables and Hunchback of Notre Dame fans is the Maison de Victor Hugo.
6 Place des Vosges
Photo: April 2003 & Feb 2006 Leave a Comment Address: Marais - entrance rue Birague - Paris, FranceDirections: 5 minutes west of the Place Bastille in the 4th arrondissement (Marais district) along rue St-Antoine. Turn right on rue Birague for a magical entrance through the Renaissance-era archway.Website: http://www.parislemarais.com/en/visiter/rp_vosges.php
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