Everything about Le Marais totally explained
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For other meanings, see Marais.
Le Marais (pronounced /maʁɛ/ and meaning “the marsh” in French) is a district in
Paris,
France, traditionally a
bourgeois area, but also well-known historically.
It spreads across parts of the
3rd and
4th arrondissements in Paris (on the
Rive Droite, or Right Bank, of the
Seine).
History
In the 12th century, the
Knights Templar cleared the
marshlands to the north of Philippe Auguste's enclosure. From the 16th century onwards, the aristocracy built large residences in the area, a trend which was accelerated by the creation of the
Place Royale (which would become the
Place des Vosges) by
Henri IV in 1605.
The departure of the royal court to
Versailles led to a decline in the district.
Haussmann's urban redevelopment only marginally affected the Marais through new alignment rules and constructions, lending irregular width to many of the neighbourhood's streets.
Another explanation for the name Marais, which today in French means marshland, would come from "maraichers", for example vegetable gardens. Indeed this area outside the original walls of Philippe Auguste's Paris were cultivated, in particular by religious orders
Towards the end of the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth century, the area surrounding the Rue des Rosiers became home to many Jews from Eastern Europe, further specializing local labour in the clothing industry. The Marais was therefore a target for the
Nazis when they controlled France.
Following Liberation in 1944, the district went slowly into dereliction.
In 1969,
André Malraux made the Marais the first protected sector (
secteur sauvegardé), with the area being home to many museums, art galleries and historic sites. As with other parts of Paris, where shops are sold but their front not entirely redone when changing business, this protection measure can lead to odd results, such as a shop with a "bakery" front selling fashionable items, or turned into a luxury hotel.
Le Marais today
The
rue des Rosiers is still a major center of the Paris Jewish community, which has met a renewal since the 1990s. Walls feature announcements of Jewish events, there are bookstores specializing in Jewish books, and there are also numerous restaurants and other outlets selling
kosher food.
The synagogue on 10, rue Pavée not far from rue des Rosiers is a strong religious center, and was originally designed in 1913 by Art Nouveau architect
Hector Guimard, famous for having designed several
Paris Metro stations.
One of the most interesting streets is the famous
rue des Francs-Bourgeois, one of the rare streets of Paris completely open on Sunday.
The Marais, particularly towards the North near République is also famed for a strong Chinese community.
The neighbourhood has experienced a growing
gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by the existence of many gay cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops.
Other features of the neighborhood include the
Musée Picasso, the house of
Nicolas Flamel, the
Musée Cognacq-Jay, and the
Musée Carnavalet.
Places and monuments of note
Further Information
Get more info on 'Le Marais'.
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