I had gotten this little walking overview online....titled %26quot;Hotel de Ville, le Marais, Place de Vosages, Bastille%26quot;
It looked like fun, but I%26#39;m not familiar enough with the areas that it%26#39;s covering to know how much time to allow for it. Can anyone give an estimate?
Start at Hôtel de Ville (métro lines 1 %26amp; 11), Paris%26#39; City Hall. The intricately decorated façade is exquisite but guided tours are rather complicated to organise, so simply linger a while and enjoy the splendour of the outside.
From Hotel de Ville, head 200m north up the Rue du Renard, to the multi-coloured, Pompidou Centre, also called Beaubourg. There may be an exhibition you’re interested in, but even if there isn’t, take the escalators up to the roof for the view and maybe a coffee. Outside, groups of musicians and artists will entertain you at all times of day and night, and the neighbouring streets are great for souvenir hunting.
On the northern side of Beaubourg, go east along Rue Rambuteau. This is a typical Parisian market street where you can buy food for a picnic, or stop at one of the cafés or wine bars - but beware, the food shops often close between 1p and 3:30p. This road will lead you to the Rue de Francs Bourgeois and the heart of the Marais district, famous for its large, mansion-like %26quot;hôtels particuliers%26quot; and museums, including the Musée Picasso and the Carnavalet (fascinating history of Paris). If you don’t fancy a museum, just take your time looking at the ancient buildings and interesting side streets. The Rue des Francs Bourgeois will lead you to the Place des Vosges, a perfectly preserved example of seventeenth-century Parisian architecture, where Victor Hugo once lived. Walk around this elegant square, which is now home to luxury hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, to get a feel of regal life long ago.
From royalty to revolution, the tour now heads for the Bastille. Rue de Birague on the south side of the Place will take you into Rue Saint Antoine. Turn left here and walk a few hundred yards to the Place de la Bastille, site of the famous storming and commemorated by a column representing freedom. From Rue Saint Antoine, cross over towards your right to the large concrete and glass Opéra Bastille, and have a quick look at the boats moored in the Port de l%26#39;Arsenal. You can visit the foyer of the opera house but you have to book a place on a guided tour to see the rest, unless you have tickets for a performance. The Bastille area, especially Rue de la Roquette and Rue de Lappe, is an excellent place for dinner as there is a vast choice of bars and restaurants. So get yourself a glass of wine, sit back and soak up the atmosphere of one of the youngest and liveliest parts of Paris.
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That is a lovely walk I have done it several times.
The time it takes depends on whether one goes into all the museums, shops, etc. and how much time you want to window shop or stop to eat .
I would say if you did all...... you could rush thru in 3 to 4 hours or you could spend a lovely day doing the walk and stopping into only two or three places.
I went back several times because the museum are too many to give justice to.
Do you have a specific time alotment to visit this area?
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If you just want to see the outside of all the buildings, I reckon on about 3hours. If you want to include a museum visit, you can add on another 2 hours or so. Then there%26#39;s the shopping,and the coffee stops ............
To do it all would take all day.
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If you just want to see the outside of all the buildings, I reckon on about 3hours. If you want to include a museum visit, you can add on another 2 hours or so. Then there%26#39;s the shopping,and the coffee stops ............
To do it all would take all day.
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Don%26#39;t know why previous reply appears twice.
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Thanks! No specific time allottment....just didn%26#39;t know if I should plan on a whole or a half day. Thanks!
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