Walk in the Marais from Beaubourg to the Place des Vosges

This walk is part of the top 5 of the most beautiful walks in Paris.

The Marais district has a lot of charm, it has lived several lives and has often been transformed. The Marais knew its golden age in the 17th century when it was the favorite district of the great nobility.

There are still many private mansions dating from this period, the mansions are magnificent buildings built to house a whole family of the nobility as well as their servants. All this heritage is very well preserved and can still be seen today.

The Marais has many other assets, such as the density of museums, impressive in such a small area: Picasso Museum, Museum of Judaism, Cognac-Jay Museum, Carnavalet Museum (free), National Archives Museum (free). You will always find something that interests you.

Finally, and this is an important point, you won't have to walk much, the neighborhood is not very big, you don't really need a map, you can always discover something new, you have to let yourself be carried by the atmosphere of the place.


This is one of the essential walks if you come to visit Paris. You can trust us.

Practical information for visiting the Carnavalet museum

Interest: ratinggreat (1 user)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 4 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

Metro Rambuteau

Metro Rambuteau
The walk starts at the Rambuteau metro station (line 11). This is also the metro station to visit the Pompidou center (Beaubourg) but we leave from the other side towards the signs for the Musee du Judaïsme and the Picasso museum.

The Rambuteau street

The Rambuteau street
The walk takes us to the Place des Vosges via the rue Rambuteau and the rue des Francs Bourgeois.

The Museum of Judaism

The Museum of Judaism
A small detour to pass in front of the museum of Judaism. The Marais was for a long time a district with an important Jewish community which is less and less the case. There are still some stores and restaurants selling traditional products.

Crédit Municipal de Paris

Crédit Municipal de Paris
If you need money, you can pledge your jewelry or valuables to the Crédit Municipal de Paris.

The Herouet Hotel

The Herouet Hotel
One of the many private mansions of the Marais. Its construction began during the Renaissance in 1510, it was almost completely destroyed by the Allied bombings in 1944.

Chez Marianne

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Chez Marianne
A very nice little restaurant offering Mediterranean and Israeli cuisine. Don't expect great value for money but you are in the heart of historic Paris.

The Historical Library of the City of Paris.

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The Historical Library of the City of Paris.
Since 1969, this private mansion, also known as the Hôtel d'Angoulême or Lamoignon, has housed a library for the city of Paris. It is open to the public.

The National Archives Museum

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The National Archives Museum
A very beautiful museum whose entrance is now free. The museum is not very big but it's worth a look, and it's not too crowded.

The garden of the National Archives

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The garden of the National Archives
Very nice garden, located on the right of the courtyard, there are some benches to enjoy the place. Attention in 2021 works are in progress for several years and access to the garden may be restricted.

The Carnavalet Museum

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The Carnavalet Museum
The Carnavalet museum, which has just been renovated, is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris and in addition the entrance is free (for the permanent collections).

The restaurant of the Carnavalet Museum

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The restaurant of the Carnavalet Museum
A very nice restaurant (Les jardins d'Olympe) inside the Carnavalet museum, no need for a ticket to enter the museum. The setting is really beautiful.

The Place des Vosges

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The Place des Vosges
Magnificent architecture even if the whole lacks a bit of life. You can visit the house of Victor Hugo located on the square and it is still free

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