The Marais district stretching through the 3rd and 4th arrondissements has many amazing sites to see. As mentioned in my earlier post on Le Marais, this gorgeous popular district in Paris was once home to many of the aristocracy who built their famous maisons in spectacular architecture and opulence of the times. A few sites in the Marais are definitely worth your time.
The Hôtel de Sully is a hôtel particulier, or private mansion, which was built between 1625 and 1630 for the Duke of Sully and today represents one of Paris’ finest examples of Louis XIII architecture. Although you can’t go inside, a walk around this gorgeous work of art is worth your while.
Nearby the Hotel de Sully is the spectacular Place des Vosges which was built in the early 1600s by Henri IV for Paris’ aristocracy and was the most elite residential place in all of Paris. Today, the Place des Vosges 36-perfectly symmetrical buildings is a place to have a cup of cafe or enjoy its peaceful interior gardens.
Saint-Paul Saint-Louis cathedral
Perhaps my absolute favorite site in Le Marais besides all the fabulous outdoor cafes and restaurants around the Bastille is the breathtaking Saint-Paul Saint-Louis cathedral. The cathedral was built between 1627 and 1641 and is a beautiful example of the splendor of Louis XIV.
I first saw the cathedral at night as the sun was setting.
It was so incredibly beautiful that I could hardly wait to see it in the daylight and take a walk inside. I was not the least bit disappointed. She is as beautiful on the inside as the outside. 
As I looked up and marveled at the majestic pipe organs, I closed my eyes and brought myself back to twenty years before when I was a student in Paris and would go to the cathedrals on Sundays just to hear the organs play. I could almost hear the music now.
Author’s note: This post is part of my series on my recent trip to France. To read my most recent post on Paris, click here.
Stay tuned…more pictures on Paris coming up next and then we will head south to Provence.
Hi Nicole, I enjoy your posts, but the last few days I have received duplicate posts. I expect it is on your end since I have done anything new.
John
Strange! So have I! (I always get a copy of my posts too and have gotten two recently too). I am not doing anything different so I’m going to check with WordPress to see what is going on. Thanks for letting me know. That is annoying, isn’t it!
Hi John:
FYI…I’m having WordPress look into this for me as I noticed today’s post went out twice again! Sorry for the annoyance. Thanks for letting me know about this and hopefully we can get it resolved as I’m not doing anything different. Thanks again!
Nicole
Incredible.
Thanks!
Good photos showing the details of the carved stone work of the front and interior. Compared to St Paul’s in London it appears very plain, as there is no elaborate gold or huge ornate paintings. The smaller paintings in your photos look more in keeping with the context of the building than the grand artwork of the London St Paul’s. The white stone makes it appear quite bright compared to the London St Paul’s too. Given that the Paris St Paul’s is around 50 years older, it makes me wonder if it was the inspiration for the London cathedral. It has a dome and a roughly similar interior shape. The Old St Paul’s in London had a tall spire and was in a serious state of deterioration by the mid 1600s and there were plans to build a replacement even before the Fire of London gutted it. Thanks for sharing these photos as it was not a cathedral I had heard of before.
Very interesting! I have only been to London once and it was 20 years ago!!! I need to go back don’t I?
I love the Marais district. It is where I usually stay when I go to Paris. Thanks for the trip back there.
Yes it is so wonderful and quaint! Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
Wonderful, I swear I saw the clouds moving!!!
🙂
Thanks for the breathtaking tour around Paris. One day I hope to see it for myself. 🙂
You’re welcome LuAnn! It truly is a beautiful, mesmerizing place!
Loved them all……
Thanks! 🙂