We
start the second part of our walk by taking a short dip into the outskirts
of the Marais district.
Crossing over the Rue De Rivoli from the Hotel De Ville, you may choose
to go into the large department store, Bazar Hotel de Ville. Our walk
continues behind the department store on a road which runs parallel
to the Rue de Rivoli.
The
road starts out as the Rue de Vererie. After an unpromising start,
you soon to start to get a flavour of the district.
The retail outlets provide the interest, lots of small independent
outlets ranging from fruit and vegetable shops, through crafts and
specialist shops for shoes and chocolates etc.
Keep going straight along the road until you come to a T junction
at the Rue Malher, where you turn right back to the Rue De Rivoli.
You will see the Church St Paul on the other side of the road.
Cross over and turn right, there is soon a small island in the road
where the Metro station is. |
 |
 |
Rue
Du Prevot |
Our
route is one of the narrowest roads in Paris, Rue Du Prevot an opening
on the left hand side.
Follow
the Rue Du Prevot to its end, then turn right into Rue Charlemagne.
After about 50m, turn left into the Rue du Figuier. If you look up
on the opposite side from the corner you will see a scissors and knife
grinder sign, a relic from the medieval past.
The area has now changed into a residential environment.On your right
you soon come to the Hotel de Sens, one of the oldest buildings in
Paris. Take a look inside the front yard.
Turn right here and first left. In front of you now is the Pont Marie.
Cross the River Seine to the Ile St-Louis, taking care to cross the
main road in your way. The Pont Marie is one of the oldest bridges
(1630), the builder Christophe Marie built it out of his own pocket
- in exchange for a parcel of land on the island. |
The
Ile St Louis is a delightful place, despite the fact that about half
the people you will meet are tourists like you.
On the other side of the bridge take the second turning on your right,
the main High Street of the island called the Rue de St Louis en Ile.
This street will delight those of you not normally interested in retail
therapy. All the small shops are independent, most are specialist
shops or neighbourhood butchers, bakers, wine merchants etc. |
Rue
de St Louis en Ile |
At
the other end of the High Street you are at the bridge, (Pont St Louis)
which connects to the next island the Ile de Cite, on which Notre
Dame resides. You are now in mainstream tourist land, there are several
cafes by the bridge.
Notre Dame is now right in front of you. |
On
crossing the bridge, turn sharp left and enter the small gardens.
This area is a memorial area for the 200,000 French people sent to
Nazi concentration camps.
There is plenty of seating here if you want a rest before Notre dame.
Come out of the memorial gardens and follow the south bank of the
island with Notre Dame immediately on your right.
This angle is a particularly good spot to admire the buttresses.
We cover Notre Dame
on a special page.
If you want something to eat at the end of the walk there is plenty
of reasonably priced restaurants on the south bank, just cross over
the bridge and enter the pedestrianised district opposite.
Our personal favourite is just to pick up a baguette and walk to the
western tip of the island where there is a garden with good views
of the river traffic and both banks.
|
Notre
Dame |
<<<< First Half of Walk |
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