Paris 4 Like a Local: where to eat, play & stay in Ile de la Cité and le Marais

PARIS ARRONDISSEMENT GUIDE: 4th ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS

 

The 4th Arrondissement of Paris is maybe our favorite district of Paris: full of history, nightlife and shops, this is the kind of place where you can never get bored. One of the liveliest neighborhoods of the city, the fourth arrondissement contains the Hôtel de Ville (Paris’ town hall), Ile de Saint Louis, the Eastern part of Ile de la Cité and it is also the home of le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements in Paris).

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PARIS 4TH ARRONDISSEMENT IN A NUTSHELL

A walk around Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint Louis

In the 4th Arrondissement of Paris, we find half of Ile de la Cité (the other half is in Paris 1), one of the oldest areas of the city. On Ile de la Cité you cannot miss Notre Dame Cathedral. Built during the Middle Ages, Notre Dame is a masterpiece of Gothic art and one of the most visited monuments in Paris. If you want to know more about the history of Paris, take the steps down to the Archaeological Crypt. Despite its central location, the crypt is a fascinating place which gets few visitors. And it is a pity because walking through Lutetia’s Roman remains visitors can get a glimpse into the Paris of the past.

Pont de Saint Louis, behind Notre Dame, will lead you to the Ile Saint Louis. This is a nice area with its own atmosphere and a lovely place for a stroll, with nice views of the Seine and the city. On Ile de Saint Louis you will find the best ice cream in Paris, at Berthillon (there are many “Berthillons” but the original one is on 31 rue Saint Louis en l’Ile).

Le Marais: much more than Hôtels Particuliers

Enjoy the liveliest Part of le Marais in Paris 4. This old marsh area became the aristocratic area of Paris in the XIVth century when Charles V decided to move to le Marais. The most important people in the court followed him and built around the new Royal Palace some of the city’s most grand houses (hôtels particuliers). The best way to explore le Marais is to get lost and walk, walk and walk. However don’t forget to check the neighborhood’s main jewels: Place des Vosges, Hôtel de Sully (and its garden) and Hôtel de Beauvais, home of a young Mozart during his first trip to Paris.

Le Marais is neither a neighborhood nor a district of Paris. It is an area which corresponds to 3rd and 4th arrondissements in Paris. Le Marais means “marsh” in French and long, long time ago it was just this, a marshland. Things changed in the XIV century when Charles V drained the marshlands and included this area inside the new ramparts surrounding the city.

 

Le Marais is far from being a homogeneous area. On the streets around Rue de la Verrerie there is a lively gay scene and rainbow flags everywhere while Village Saint Paul’s cobblestone courtyards, quiet cafes and vintage shops have a little town vibe.

Finally, le Marais in Paris 4 is also the heart of the main Jewish community in the city. Cross Rue Rivoli and you can enjoy the particular atmosphere of a little Shtetl in the Pletzl (=little square in Yiddish) of Paris. The first Jewish community settled in this area during the XVIIIth century. From 1881 Ashkenazi Jews began to flock to France fleeing the persecutions. They lodged in Paris, with their coreligionists established in le Marais. More than half of people living in the Pletzl died in the Nazi concentration camps. The ones who survived managed to keep the Pletzl’s spirit until our days: street merchants, orthodox Jews with their recognizable hats, boulangeries proposing the Hallot and other Jewish delicacies and even a Schnorrer (rue des Rosiers).

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TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS 4

No surprises here: you can find all these Paris Monuments and Paris points of interest on all the guidebooks about Paris so no post talking about the fourth arrondissement would be complete without the top tourist attractions in Paris. If this is your first trip to Paris you will like to visit some of them, they are very touristy but beautiful!

Notre-Dame de Paris  

Place des Vosges

Marché aux fleurs at l’Île de la Cité

Hôtel de Ville de la Ville de Paris  

Centre Pompidou

Victor Hugo’s house

Shoah Memorial

Tour Saint Jacques

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QUIRKY AND UNUSUAL SIGHTS IN PARIS 4

Some of them are part of touristy sights, some of them are hidden gems. This is our personal list of best things to see in Paris 4th arrondissement to enjoy Paris Like a Local.

Paris from Notre-Dame’s towers with its gargoyles – a unique view from a unique place

Cloître des Billettes – the only cloister from Middle Ages (XIVth century) that we can still see in Paris

Village Saint Paul – a quiet and stuck in time labyrinth of cobblestone streets, cafes and vintage shops

Half-timbered houses and an underground cellar from Middle Ages – at rue François Miron

Censored stalls at Saint Gervais -Saint Protais Church – unexpected profane scenes on the priests’ seats

Guimard’s beautiful Synagogue at rue Pavée

Hidden Jardin des Francs Rosiers – a quiet and unique atmosphere

Sunset in Paris at le Perchoir du Marais – with your favorite drink and favorite company

Brancusi’s Workshop – Get a glimpse of how artists worked during the 20’s

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UNIQUE THINGS TO DO IN PARIS 4

On our Paris Arrondissement Guides we like to encourage people to beat the crowds and explore Paris beyond its main sights. Despite being one of the most touristy Paris arrondissements we like to walk around Ile de la Cité or le Marais, there are always so many things to do! This is our personal list of unique things to do in Paris 4 to enjoy Paris like a local.

Step on France’s kilometer zero – just in front of Notre Dame, all the roads are measured from this point

Stroll along rue des Rosiers – get a taste of its many street food options in the heart of the Jewish Quarter

Travel back in time inside the Crypte Archéologique– learn about former Lutèce, and the birth of Paris

Coffee break at rue de Barres or rue du Trésor– a small town feel in the heart of Paris

A picnic on the banks of the Seine – a locals’ must. Vin, fromage & baguette, Paris’ beautiful architecture, Bateaux Mouches . . . quintessential Paris as its best

Enjoy the best ice cream of Paris at Berthillon –  on Ile de Saint Louis, probably also the most expensive ice cream in Paris

Check the latest photo exhibition at Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP)  – Always top quality exhibitions

Follow the traces of Philippe Auguste’s walls– these XVIIIth century walls (many locations) separated once Paris from the marshland

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EATING IN PARIS 4 LIKE A LOCAL

Foodies will love Rue des Rosiers and Rue Rambuteau, with endless delicacies shops, street food, and little bistros.

The best falafel in the city is at l’As du Falafel (34 rue des Rosiers, closed on Saturday). Its competitor and neighbor, le Roi du Falafel, is not bad at all either.

Miss Manon (87 Rue Saint-Antoine) has INCREDIBLE French pastries. If you like sweet treats you don’t want to miss this place.

Check our proposals (by Paris arrondissements) on Yummy Paris. Affordable restaurants in Paris 4 but also Paris bistros or Paris street food. This is a living page which we are continuously “feeding” with our Parisian friends’ suggestions. Come back to Yummy Paris from time to time to read the newest additions.

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WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS 4

On “Where to Stay in Paris” section we like to propose our top options in each price bracket (budget hotels in Paris, mid-range hotels in Paris and luxury hotels in Paris) for a specific district of Paris. However, in this Paris neighborhood in the heart of Paris, it is really difficult to find quality budget hotels (-100€ /night) so we preferred to give you two Mid Range Hotels instead. These are our favorite 4th Arrondissement hotels, hope you will like them! You can also click on the following link to check all the hotel options for Paris 4

NB: The same hotel may be in two different price brackets depending on the kind of room you choose.

 

HOTEL SAINT LOUIS EN L’ISLE – LUXURY HOTEL IN PARIS (200€+ /NIGHT)

Excellent location, on the heart of Ile de Saint Louis. Its classic Parisian décor, wooden beams, and exposed stone walls make this hotel unique and an excellent option for your stay in Paris.

Click here for the Latest Prices

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CASTEX HOTEL – MID RANGE HOTEL IN PARIS  (100-200€ /NIGHT)

Stay in the heart of busy Marais, and finish your days in the hotel’s quiet garden. Rooms are cute and bright with a very defined contemporary design and breakfast is served in the hotel’s impressive stone cellar

Click here for the Latest Prices

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HOTEL DE NEUVE – MID RANGE HOTEL IN PARIS (100-200€ /NIGHT)

In the heart of Marais and very close to Place des Vosges, this hotel combines an excellent location with a good price. Rooms and common spaces are cute and the hotel proposes a “comptoir gourmand” with free coffee, tea, and French pastries

Click here for the Latest Prices

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SHORT TERM RENTAL PARIS

Hotels are still the most popular option to rest your head at the end of the day but if you dream of living the Paris lifestyle, then an apartment is the best way to get a feel for the local atmosphere. We are talking about enjoying your Parisian holiday in the comfort of your own Paris furnished apartment, regardless of the length of your stay.

Read our full review

 

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