IN THE HEART OF PARIS
Just a step away from the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Hôtel de Roubaix is ideally located for exploring the center of Paris on foot. Discover the pedestrian market on the rue Montorgueil and its picturesque restaurants, or the Centre Pompidou with its modern art exhibits. Explore Les Halles and the enormous shopping complex there, the Louvre and the arcades of the rue de Rivoli, or the Marais with its Jewish quarter and its trendy shops and cafés....
Les Halles
Les Halles was the name given to the traditional central market of Paris, the bustling hub where fresh produce was bought and sold as early as the 12th century. The market has been an inspiration for many authors, most notably for Émile Zola who nicknamed it the "underbelly of Paris" in his novel, Le Ventre de Paris, which is set in the busy marketplace of the 19th century. That marketplace was replaced in the 1970's by a vast complex which includes a central garden, an underground shopping center (the Forum des Halles) as well as a movie theater and a swimming pool. The RER station, Châtelet - Les Halles, located beneath the complex, is the largest underground station in the world and allows access to every corner of Paris by public transport. Not unlike the Hotel de Roubaix, les Halles is a mix of the modern (the Centre Pomidou Museum with its modern art exhibits) and the traditional (the quaintly paved rue Montorgueil).
Read more about the Centre Pompidou
Discover the Halles de Paris
Take a gourmet walking tour: www.walkgeneration.com
Read more about the Centre Pompidou
Discover the Halles de Paris
Take a gourmet walking tour: www.walkgeneration.com
Le Louvre
After a visit to the Centre Pomidou, take a walk over to the Louvre just on the other side of Les Halles. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, and the largest in Paris, covering more than 210 000 square meters. Located in the heart of the city, it houses an incredible collection of treasures: the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, to name just two of the most famous. Don't forget to take a break in the arcades of the rue de Rivoli at Angélina and enjoy the most amazing hot chocolate you have ever tasted. Or if the weather is sunny, stroll through the Tuileries gardens toward the Jeu de Paume and stop to enjoy a "citron pressé" in one of the outdoor cafés. At the far end of the Tuileries you will find the Place de la Concorde and an uninterrupted view all the way up one of the most famous avenues in Paris, the Champs-Elysées.
Read more about the Louvre Museum
Visit the Louvre
Follow in the footsteps of the Da Vinci Code: www.lelouvre.fr
Read more about the Louvre Museum
Visit the Louvre
Follow in the footsteps of the Da Vinci Code: www.lelouvre.fr
Le Marais
The Marais area is considered one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Paris with its charming old buildings, its narrow medieval streets, its museums and the stunning Place des Vosges. Once a swampland, the Marais (meaning swamp) was first occupied in the 12th century by various religious orders (including the Templars). After falling in and out of fashion over the years, the Marais is popular again, and loved by visitors and residents alike. It's a great area for window-shopping at trendy boutiques, up-and-coming galleries, and eclectic stores, and it's one of the few neighborhoods where shops are open on Sundays. It's long been a center for Paris's Jewish community and you'll find Jewish shops and businesses around Rues des Rosiers, Pavée, and des Écouffes. More recently, it has become Paris's center of gay and lesbian life, particularly on Rues St-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, des Archives, and Vieille-du-Temple.
Read more about the Marais
Explore le Marais on foot
Visit the architectural wonders in the area: www.paris48.com
Read more about the Marais
Explore le Marais on foot
Visit the architectural wonders in the area: www.paris48.com