FRANCE - Best of Europe 2014 - page 344

scious boutiques. The streets are a fascinating parade of artists, students, tourists, immig-
rants, and baguette-munching babies in strollers. The Marais is also known as a hub of the
Parisiangayandlesbianscene.Thisareais sansdoute livelier(andlouder)thantheRueCler
area.
In the Marais you have these major sights close at hand: the Carnavalet Museum, Victor
Hugo's House, the Jewish Art and History Museum, the Pompidou Center, and the Picasso
Museum. You're also a manageable walk from Paris' two islands (Ile St. Louis and Ile de
la Cité), home to Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. The Opéra Bastille, Promenade Plantée
park, Place des Vosges (Paris' oldest square), Jewish Quarter (Rue des Rosiers), the Latin
Quarter,andnightlife-packed Rue deLappe arealso walkable. Strolling home(dayornight)
from Notre-Dame along Ile St. Louis is marvelous.
MostofmyrecommendedhotelsarelocatedafewblocksnorthoftheMarais'maineast-
west drag, Rue St. Antoine/Rue de Rivoli.
Tourist Information: The nearest TI is at the Pyramides Métro stop (daily May-Oct
9:00-19:00, Nov-April 10:00-19:00).
Services: Most banks and other services are on the main street, Rue de Rivoli, which
becomes Rue St. Antoine. Marais post offices are on Rue Castex and at the corner of Rue
Pavée and Rue des Francs Bourgeois. There's a busy SNCF Boutique where you can take
care of all train needs on Rue St. Antoine at Rue de Turenne (Mon-Fri 8:00-20:30, Sat
10:00-20:30, closed Sun). A quieter SNCF Boutique is nearer Gare de Lyon at 5 Rue de Ly-
on (Mon-Sat 8:30-18:00, closed Sun).
Markets: The Marais has two good open-air markets: the sprawling Marché de la
Bastille, along Boulevard Richard Lenoir, on the north side of Place de la Bastille (Thu
and Sun until 14:30); and the more intimate, untouristy Marché d'Aligre (Tue-Sat 9:00-14,
closed Mon, cross Place de la Bastille and walk about 10 blocks down Rue du Faubourg St.
Antoine, turn right at Rue de Cotte to Place d'Aligre; or, take Métro line 8 from Bastille in
the direction of Créteil-Préfecture, get off at the Ledru-Rollin stop, and walk a few blocks
southeast). A small grocery is open until 23:00 on Rue St. Antoine (near intersection with
Rue Castex). To shop at a Parisian Sears, find the BHV department store next to Hôtel de
Ville. Paris' oldest covered market, Marché des Enfants Rouges, lies a 10-minute walk
north of Rue de Rivoli.
InternetAccess: Try ParisCY (Mon-Sat10:00-20:00,Sun13:00-20:00,8RuedeJouy,
Mo: St. Paul, tel. [phone]).
Laundry: There are many launderettes; ask your hotelier for the nearest. Here are three
you can count on: on Impasse Guéménée (north of Rue St. Antoine), on Rue Ste. Croix de
la Bretonnerie (just east of Rue du Temple), and on Rue du Petit Musc (south of Rue St. An-
toine).