Place Des Vosges

Here are five amazing things you can do around the Place Des Vosges

1.) Have a picnic on the lawns ofthe square

Feel like a true Parisian sitting on the grass, chatting with friends, enjoying the sun, eating a sandwich with a bottle of wine. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the gardens, the murmur of the fountains and admire the beautiful buildings around, with their elegant arcades.

2.) Trendy Marais Tour

Discover Paris within an hour, guided by a true Parisian loving their city. During this tour you will discover the secret gardens of the Marais neighborhood, the Jewish area and the luxurious mansions of old French aristocrats. You will feel the dreams of younger generations who wanted to change the world with love and poems, and learn about the best bars in Paris and the trendiest shops around.

3.) Have lunch at the famour restaurant L’Ambroisie

If you are ready to pay the price, you can offer yourself one of the best meals of your life in this 3 stars restaurant, according to the Michelin Guide. The chef offers traditional yet elegant dishes, in a peculiar atmosphere characterized by discrete luxury and modernity. Its reputation comes from the selection of the most wonderful products, always served according to the season of the year.

4.) Visit the house of Victor Hugo

The house of this famous French writer, poet and politician, known for his novel “Le Bossu de Notre Dame” (“The hunchback of Notre Dame”), became a museum after his death. Enter number 6, place des Vosges, and visit the Chinese style living room, the medieval style dining room and finally discover Victor Hugo’s bedroom in which he died in 1885.

5.) Walk through the Rosiers Street

The Rossiers Street is the Jewish neighborhood’s main street where you can find many fashion stores with French-style clothes and shoes. You can also enjoy the amazing falafels, typical middle-eastern sandwiches, served by five different restaurants in the street, all competing with each other!

Insider’s tips:

• This is the neighborhood of communities (gay, Jewish) so don’t be afraid of being who you are!
• If you want to show-off a little bit, come dressed as a model! In this trendy neighborhood, everybody will think you are here for a shooting.

Facts about the Place Des Vosges

The Place des Vosges is among the oldest plazas in Paris.

Henri IV ordered its construction, which lasted for 7 years between 1605 and 1612, and named it Place Royale. With its perfect dimensions (140m x 140m), it was inaugurated in 1612 for the wedding of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. The buildings around are all like each other thanks to the architect Baptiste du Cerceau who gave the plaza its true spirit with the vaulted arcades standing on square pillars.

Numerous famous people have lived here through the ages, from artists to political figures: some writers such as Madame de Sévigné, Victor Hugo, Théophile Gautier, Bossuet or Alphonse Daudet but also politicians such as Cardinal Richelieu, Sully, and more recently the ex-IMF President Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

How to get there

By Metro:
Station Bastille ( Lines 1, 5 or 8 ) or station Chemin Vert, line 8.

By Rer:
Lines 29, 96

Near By

1.) Fun Cooking Class:
The best way to discover the French gastronomy while having fun! You will be taught some typical recipes, easy to reproduce at home to impress your friends. The classes take place near the Marais.

2.) The Absinthe store Vert d’Absinthe:
Absinthe is now legalized in France, so here you can find everything about this famous beverage, which inspired so many poets.

3.) Visit the Carnavalet Museum:
Discover the history of Paris thanks to a permanent exhibition hosted in the beautiful Hotel Carnavalet.

Why it’s worth visiting

• Historically, it is an emblematic square in Paris.
• Many French public figures lived there or still live there: Victor Hugo, the famous French author, or, in a whole other genre, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former IMF president.
• It is one of the most famous squares of Le Marais, a trendy neighborhood in Paris.