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Introduction

Musee Picasso

Musee Carnavalet

Musee Cognaq Jay and walk

Place des Vosges
Musee Victor Hugo

Jewish area-Rue des Rosiers

Carreau du Temple -market-Musee du Judaisme

Village St.Paul
Hotel de Sens

Ile de la Cite
Cathedrale 
Notre Dame de Paris

Ile Saint-Louis

Place Hotel de Ville

Paris -Marais-Village St.Paul (antiques)-Hotel de Sens

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At the other side of the street the passage Sainte-Avoye.  At no.79, l’hotel de Montmor (1623). Despite future modifications, the house stayed of good quality and kept a beautiful stairway. Next house, no.77, is a perfect example of early Louis XIII. A little higher, rue du Temple no.84, gable-end houses with four masks on the facade.From here to the RUE SAINTE-CROIX-DE-LA-BRETONNERIE it's only a stone throw away, center of the Paris gay community. As they usually have very good taste, they opened a lot of cute shops, small restaurants and cafes where it is animated day and night. Despite the disdain and opposition of the original Marais inhabitants, the area and the street became one of the most animated of the Marais. It’s in this street that I know one of the most worthy quality/price lunch places of Paris. A lot of theatre-cafes have their home here like the “Point-Virgule”, good bistros like “Le Petit Gavroche”, and “Au Rendez-Vous des Amis”, the restaurant of the Aviatic Club.

Rue Vieille du Temple	Square Georges-Cain

Let's go now to a different area of the Marais: the quartier Saint-Paul. For that let's start at the metro station Saint-Paul. While strolling and seeing a house that looks interesting try to open the front portal or door by pressing an anonymous button besides the door, it opens automatically. Don't be afraid, it's common. You may be able to discover hidden courtyards and interesting remains of medieval Paris. The MUSEE DE LA MAGIE is a peculiar place, a must for those who love magic. Make a right into the rue de Beautreillis with its typical provincial charm where you have a beautiful view on the dome Saint-Paul from the ancient hotel de Charny at no.22 where Baudelaire lived in 1858.Nothing more noticeable except that here Jim Morrison died in one of the houses, July 1971, in his bathtub! Other sources claim he died of an overdose in the toilets of a nightclub. Sad ending, but what a poet!! Make a left at the rue Charles V. At no.12 the hotel of the Marquise de Brinvilliers, a famous poisonner. Continue and you will arrive at the VILLAGE SAINT-PAUL. It was created when the area was renovated and is a maze of courtyards on different levels, entirely occupied by galleries, libraries, antique boutiques and a few cafes where loitering is a delight. It's like a village in the middle of Paris, located between the quai des Celestins, rue St.Paul and rue Charlemagne, protected from the outside by houses surrounding the village. The shops and dealers display their goods in cute interior courtyards. It's open every day except on Tuesdays of Wednesdays from 11.00 to 19.00. More than sixty "brocanteurs and antiquaires" are assembled there. 
Exit the Village Saint-Paul in the rue des Jardins, left to the next corner and you are in front of the HOTEL DE SENS. Built in 1475-1519 to give a home to the archbishop of Paris, it was soon considered as one of the most beautiful palace of Paris. It has beautiful windows and a stunning gothic porch. In 1558 the Concile de Sens found Martin Luther guilty of heresy. Later the hotel was the home of Marguerite de Navarre, better known as la Reine Margot, the unfaithful spouse of Henri IV. After being storage for jam products, it became finally the contemporary bibliotheque Forney, specialized in arts and applied sciences. You must absolutely go and visit the interior courtyard and very well restored reading room: the bibliotheque Forney.

Hotel de Sens detail facade

Bibliography:

--Vie et histoire des arrondissements de Paris, ed.Hervas (1985-1988) --Dictionnaire des monuments de Paris, by J.Colson and M.C.Lauroa, ed.Hervas 1992 --Guide du Routard 1998-1999 (Ed.Hachette) --Paris, 2000 d'histoire, by J.Favier, ed.Fayard 1997 --Naissance de Paris, by M.Fleury, ed.Imprimerie Nationale 1997 --Paris 19eme siecle, l'immeuble et la rue, by F.Loyer, ed.Hazan, 1994