Description: Paris’s impressive city hall, built in the 16th century, was burnt during the tumultuous days of the Paris Commune, in 1871. What we see today is a mostly faithful reconstruction, started soon after the destruction of the original. Special events often take place here, including free exhibitions in the Espace Paris Rendez-Vous (entrance at 29 rue de Rivoli) or the salle des Prévôts-Tapisseries (5 rue de Lobau). The outside of the building is especially beautiful after dark, when the gas lamps flicker all around it, and fairy lights glow from its shrubberies.

Monday: 10:00 - 18:30
Tuesday: 10:00 - 18:30
Wednesday: 10:00 - 18:30
Thursday: 10:00 - 18:30
Friday: 10:00 - 18:30
Saturday: 10:00 - 18:30

Description: Behind the Hôtel de Ville, you’ll see a large church. There is an elm tree planted in the street in front of it. This tree doesn’t look particularly remarkable but it has significance in Paris history. It’s here that, according to legend, medieval Parisians would meet and often air their grievances, with judges making rulings. Old maps of the city feature the tree. The current one was re-planted in 1935. The church is the Eglise Saint-Gervais-et-Saint Protais. Built in 1494-1657, it’s notable for its Baroque style and several impressive details, including 16th century stained glass windows and an organ once used by Baroque composers Louis and François Couperin, that is a registered historic landmark. Although, like most of Paris’s churches, this one’s façade was a bit blocked by buildings until the mid-19th century, it was still mentioned and admired by the likes of Voltaire. A tragic claim to fame of the Eglise Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais is that it is the site of the largest number of civilian casualties in Paris during World War I. In 1918, during Good Friday services, a German long-range bomb broke through the roof, killing 88 people. Today, the church is a beautiful site full of a holy silence and impressive feats from long ago that still resonate today.

Description: To the left of the Eglise Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais, you’ll find the rue François Miron. Head down it, and you’re in for a few treats. First, if you’re visiting on a Wednesday (12:30-8:30pm) or Saturday (7am-3pm), you can stroll around the Marché Baudoyer (Baudoyer Market), an outdoor market where you can buy fresh produce, fish, fowl, and more. Located in the paved area in front of the Mairie (Mayor’s Office) of the 4th arrondissement, this market is exceptional for being open in the afternoons and evenings (most Parisian markets open early and end around 2pm). Even if it’s not a market day, the street is lined with the pretty (although often expensive) artisanal shops and restaurants the Marais neighborhood is known for. Enjoy some shopping, or just window shopping, as you walk along.

Wednesday: 12:30 - 20:30
Saturday: 07:00 - 15:00

Description: When you arrive at numbers 11 and 13, you’ll find a very different kind of architecture from the other buildings around you. These two medieval houses date to the 14th century. Although there are several other medieval structures in Paris, these two are especially remarkable because their exposed beam facades have been restored and left exposed. A fire-safety law passed in 1667 required all building exteriors to be covered in plaster. Restored three hundred years later, in 1967, these houses give us a glimpse of what the Paris of the middle ages looked like.

Description: On the opposite side of the street, at number 46, you’ll find theMaison d’Ourscamp, which houses the Association pour la Sauvegarde et la Mise en valeur du Paris historique (Paris historical preservation society). Go inside and for a small fee of a few euros (for a worthy cause) you can visit the building’s Renaissance courtyard and its basement, which was once the wine cellar of a bygone abbey. The vaulted ceilings are impressive, and there’s a feeling of stepping back in time. The Association also organizes exhibitions, talks, and guided walks.

Sunday: 14:00 - 19:00
Monday: 11:00 - 18:00
Tuesday: 11:00 - 18:00
Wednesday: 11:00 - 18:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 18:00
Friday: 11:00 - 18:00
Saturday: 11:00 - 19:00

Description: When you leave the Maison d’Ourscamp, go back up the rue François Miron until you come to a small, elevated street on your left, called the rue des Barres. Take this lovely street that’s lined with old houses, all the way to its end, where it comes out to an intersection beside the River Seine. From here, look just behind you for a striking view of the rue des Barres’ low stone steps and the pretty back of the Eglise-Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais.

Description: Now look in front of you. Across the rue de l’Hôtel de Ville, you’ll see the lovely Café Louis-Philippe. Its pretty exterior alone is worth a few snapshots. Savor a beverage on its terrace, which boasts a stunning view of the banks of the Seine and Notre-Dame. The perfect end to any Parisian stroll.

Sunday: 10:00 - 01:30
Monday: 10:00 - 01:30
Tuesday: 10:00 - 01:30
Wednesday: 10:00 - 01:30
Thursday: 10:00 - 01:30
Friday: 10:00 - 01:30
Saturday: 10:00 - 01:30