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I'm David Hill with New York Habitat.
Today we are going to check out
one of the coolest neighborhoods in Paris - the Marais.
With its refined 16th century mansions,
Jewish delicatessens, peaceful gardens,
trendy boutiques,
the Marais truly has something for everyone!
This will be the first of a two-part series
on the fantastic neighborhood, le Marais.
So be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel
and you'll be notified when Part 2 comes out
in a few weeks.
The Marais, the French word for 'marsh',
is located north of the Seine
sandwiched between Place de la Bastille,
Place de la Republique and Les Halles.
It's swamp lands were drained in the mid-1500s
and was quickly bought up by the aristocrats
to build their elegant city mansions.
The area was abandoned in the 18th century,
when the nobles started gravitating
towards the West of the city.
The Marais would have seen the wrecking ball
if it hadn't been for a campaign
led by the Minister of Culture,
Andre Malraux, in the 1960s to save the area's heritage.
Today the Marais is one of the loveliest
and trendiest areas of Paris.
You can spot two half-timbered houses
hidden in behind the busy rue de Rivoli
at number 44 rue Francois Miron.
Dating from the 14th century,
these are the oldest homes in Paris.
The building facades were plastered over in 1607
in compliance with a citywide ban on wooden houses
and were only 're-discovered' in the mid-20th century,
a lucky find for the surprised owner!
Just to the north of rue de Rivoli
and east of rue Saint Paul
is one of the nicest of the Marais Renaissance mansions,
the Hotel de Sully.
Built in the 1620s, it was acquired in 1634
by Louis XIII's Superintendant of Finance
the duc de Sully,
giving the mansion its current name.
Crossing this peaceful paradise of the gardens,
you can reach Place des Vosges
through a secret doorway.
Place des Vosges is most certainly
one of the most beautiful places of Paris.
Finished in 1612, it was commissioned by Henri IV
to give crowded Paris a proper public square
and it became the model for squares all over Europe.
The King and Queen's pavilions
are located opposite each other
on the North and South ends
and around the square are 36 attached town houses
built for the leading aristocrats of the era.
Place des Vosges has had its share of famous residents,
including Victor Hugo,
whose home at number 6 is now a museum in his honor.
Not everyone can afford to stay in Place des Vosges,
but if you're looking to save money,
consider renting a furnished vacation rental in Paris
through New York Habitat.
You'll get more space for your money
and cooking at home will save you even more.
You can continue to track medieval Paris
just off of rue Charlemagne
where you can see the largest stretch of the old city wall.
The wall was built in the 1180s by King Philippe-August
to protect against Viking invasions.
Across the street from the old wall,
take one of the open passages
and you'll find yourself in another world -
the magical Village Saint Paul.
A series of building courtyards
between the rue Saint Paul
and the rue des Jardins Saint Paul,
here you can peruse dusty antique shops,
design boutiques, some art galleries
or stop for a glass of wine at one of the cool cafes,
it's the perfect break from your stroll in the Marais.
If you're looking for a bit of culture and history,
stop in at the Musee Carnavalet,
yet another beautiful private mansion,
home to the museum of the history of Paris.
Wandering its maze of rooms,
you will travel through the ages of Paris
from the Roman times to the lively Belle Epoque era
from around the turn of the 20th century…
and what's more the entrance is completely free.
Well my friends,
I hope you've enjoyed our little tour of the Marais.
And of course,
there are a lot more things to do and see in this area.
If I've forgotten any of your favorite Marais Secrets,
make sure you leave a comment
in the comment section below.
And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel
so you can be notified when Part 2
of our Marais video tour comes out in a few weeks.
If you're planning a trip to Paris,
live like a local by renting a furnished apartment
through New York Habitat.
Visit our website at nyhabitat.com.
You're just a few clicks away
from living like a real Parisian.
I'm David Hill with New York Habitat.
Once a muggy swampland,
and today a Parisian hotspot,
I hope to see you soon in the Marais!