Place des Vosges just celebrated its 400th anniversary on april 5th !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PLACE DES VOSGES.

Bonjour Parismarais Readers,

A bejewelled treasure, the place des Vosges was inaurated on 5 April 1612, on the occasion of the double betrothal of Louis XIII to Anne of Austria and his sister Elizabeth to Philip IV of Spain. it was known as Place Royale. The festivities went on for three days, complete with a motley carousel that made its round to the sound of trumpets, oboes and violins, while the guns of the Bastille roard in the distance. At night a torchlight procession left the square and paraded through the streets of Paris to the sound of music, whilst a magnificent display of fireworks illuminated the sky above the Bastille.

This was a magnificent square, a determining factor in the promotion of the Marais as the aristocratic neighbourhood of Paris in the first half of the 17th century, until the move of the court to Versailles in 1682. It was created by Henri IV on grounds that once belonged to the Hôtel des Tournelles, the royal palace of Henri II and Catherine de Medicis. The palace stood north of the square, but was levelled by Catherine de Medicis after the death of her husband, Henri II, on 30 June 1559, in the hand of the Count of Montgomery, captain of the Scottish Guard. The two were engaged in a friendly tournament on the site of the square and history never established whether the death was accidental or intentional. The bereaved Queen moved to the Louvre, and in 1564 to the newly built Tuileries. The following year she ordered the Hôtel des Tournelles to be levelled, to blot out the memory of the fateful event, leaving the grounds to lay waste.

Her son-in-law, Henri IV first set up here a silk-and-silver weaving mill in the fashion of Milan, with whom he wished to compete. Mulberry trees were planted in the Tuileries Gardens and 200 workers brought over from Italy. But the venture failed and the buildings were torn down and replaced by the Place Royale. On 10 May 1610, Henri IV was assassinated whilst riding in his royal coach through Les Halles:  he never saw the completed square.  

The Place Royale was renamed place des Vosges in 1800, in honour of the mountainous department in eastern France for being the first to pay its taxes to the young Republic. However, under the monarchies of the 19th century, it reverted to its original name of Place Royale.

Thirza Vallois, Guest Editor, parismarais.com

Adapted from Thirza Vallois's Around and About Paris. For the full story of the Place des Vosges and the Marais read the chapters on the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Around and About Paris — From the Dawn of Time to the Eiffel Tower, Volume 1 -  http://www.thirzavallois.com

FABULOUS ADDRESSES ON OR NEAR PLACE DES VOSGES

La Place Royale

La Place Royale is a wonderful restaurant with terrace on the south side of the loveliest square in Paris, near the Victor Hugo museum. Maintaining the French grand tradition of cuisine, its southern French cooking is constantly inventive, its fine quality matched by low prices. The lunch menu is 18 euros and the generous dinner menu includes an aperitif, starter, main dish, dessert, ½ bottle of red or white wine and a cup of coffee per person for under forty euros.
  Address and menus...

Carette

Carette, amidst modern art galleries and the Pavillon de la Reine, is a Parisian institution, the original salon being near the Eiffel tower. Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the elegant interior is pure Louis XVI. On offer are gourmet breakfasts, celebrated flavorful macarons, croissants, pastries, sorbets and ice cream. A complete brunch can be had any day and any time. Tea time offers delicious finger sandwiches and plates of 5 mini-macrons. The fabulous decor is reminiscent of the glory days of the former Place Royale.
  Address and menus...

Dammann Frères

Dammann Frères is faithful to the tradition of the origins of tea. Select, import, sample, store, transport, invent. Their experts constantly offer you the best blends and most subtle flavors. A quest for perfection whose sole purpose is satisfaction and pleasure of all tea lovers.
15 Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris
  Address and menus...

Le Pavillon de la Reine, Luxury 4 star hotel

The Pavillon de la Reine is an oasis of luxury and peace. The 56 rooms - all different - are equipped with the latest amenities, however the feeling is of elegance. The staff, always kind and discreet, will help you feel at home, either in your room, or with a drink at the "honesty bar" around the imposing fireplace. Rooms from 330€
  Book at the best rate with parismarais.com

Hotel DUO, 4 star design hotel

Situated between Notre Dame and Georges Pompidou Center, the Hotel DUO is dedicated to serenity. Architectural decor and colors, space and materials merge in elegance and coziness with a warm modern theme. In perfect harmony with the neighborhood, Hotel DUO offers you great ambiance and proximity to all major landmarks, restaurants, nightlife and chic boutiques. Large comfortable rooms and suites, Lobby & Lounge Bar, Private Spa and Fitness make the new Hotel Duo the ultimate luxurious and trendy spot in Le Marais.
  Book at the best rate with parismarais.com

Le Bourg Tibourg , Charming neo–gothic boutique Hotel

The Bourg Tibourg Hotel is steeped in the atmosphere of its home neighbourhood, the Marais. Ideally situated, it is an excellent departure point for strolls through the historical and cultural heart of Paris such as Place des Vosges, Notre Dame, and the Carnavalet Museum. The surprising decor is inspired by the neo-gothic with a spicy touch of the orient, softened by a very romantic and very "French" touch. The rooms combine harmony and elegance against a backdrop of comfort and modernity. The small, enclosed garden designed by Camille Muller and the 5th-floor balcony offering a lovely view of the Paris skyline are both worth discovering.
  Book at the best rate with parismarais.com

Hotel Caron, Design boutique Hotel

One of the new generation of luxury "Designer Boutique Hotels", it offers the latest in French refinement and elegance in a cozy, historic setting. Very near the Place Sainte Catherine, the Carnavalet museum and the Hôtel Sully, it is a stone's throw away form the Village of St. Paul. The hotel has 18 air-conditioned rooms that are perfectly set apart and quiet. Each room is uniquely decorated, bringing together technology and serenity to ensure a memorable stay.
  Book at the best rate with parismarais.com

Restaurant Le Bourguignon du Marais

Close to south of Place des vosges, located on rue François Mirron, a street of Gallo-Roman origin opening onto a terrace, the Bourguignon du Marais welcomes you to enjoy a delicious and traditional cuisine. Gratin of crayfish tails in Chardonnay or six large Burgundy snails with garlic and parsley sauce will awaken your palate. To continue, try the veal kidneys with purple mustard purée or the Boeuf Bourguignon Tradition. The soul of this restaurant is to be found also in the exceptional wine list, which is exclusively from Burgundy.
  Address and menus...

Hôtel de Sully bookshop

The bookshop is situated between the courtyard and garden of the Hôtel de Sully, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture. Open every day, including Sunday, it attracts an international clientele, as much for the beauty of the spot as for its exceptional collection of books. This unique space with clearly displayed books and carefully selected new titles will surprise and delight all readers, including children. A special section for young readers offers appealing items, chosen with the same care and enthusiasm. Our adjoining garden, or the neighbouring Place des Vosges, provides a peaceful respite after your visit.
62 Rue Saint Antoine 75004 Paris
  Website

Victor Hugo's House

The hotel of Rohan-Guéménée was constructed on the site of the Park of Tournelles, by Isaac Arnauld, the King's counsellor and administrator of Finances, who was granted the lot in 1605. In 1639, the residence became the property of Louis de Rohan, prince of Guéménée, and it stayed in the family until 1784. Put up for sale, the hotel was purchased by Jacques Desmary, then in 1797 by the family Péan de Saint-Gilles, and it finally was donated by its descendants in 1873 to the City of Paris and transformed into a primary school.
In 1832, during the rehearsals of his play Le Roi s'amuse, Victor Hugo settled himself at the Place Royale ( now Place des Vosges ), which soon became a popular meeting place where his friends, such as Charles Nodier and Théophile Gautier, would make regular visits.

On July 12th, 1832, the lease for the rental of the apartment was signed. The specified contract, starting January 1st 1833, stated, a second floor apartment situated at the Place Royale n°6; the apartment consists of an antechamber, dining room, and drawing room, with a kitchen overlooking the courtyard, several rooms in a wing that can be reached by a corridor with an exit, a small staircase, woodshed, three servants rooms, and a cellar.

The tour of the apartment, which has a surface area of 280m², portrays the three different stages of Hugo's life, Before the Exile, During the Exile, and After the Exile. The antechamber evokes the childhood and youth of the poet, his marriage with Adèle Foucher, and the birth of their children. The Red drawing room restores most clearly the period during which the family lived at the Place Royale. Here in the apartment, Hugo welcomed many of his friends, while receiving social and literary fame as leader of the Romantic Movement.

Victor Hugo's House 6 place des Vosges 75004
Tel. 01 42 72 10 16 Open 10.00-17.40 except on Mondays

LE MARAIS MAP, DOWNLOAD FOR FREE !

To prepare for your trip to Paris,
you can download the exclusive Parismarais map of le Marais for free !

Be sure to print out both sides A and B
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SIDE A

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You can also visit the following page where you will find more maps of Paris and le Marais as well as selected places to visit - photos and addresses will “pop up” as soon as you click on the colored dots.

Fabulous, n'est-ce pas ? : parismarais.com/map-of-le-marais.htm

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Parismarais Newsletter, April 2012
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