The Marais District

Dive into the Marais, Paris's best-preserved historic quarter, where aristocratic mansions now house world-class museums. Begin at Place de la Bastille with its revolutionary July Column, then stroll through the elegant arcades of Place des Vosges — the oldest planned square in Paris — before stepping into Victor Hugo's apartment where he penned Les Misérables. The route weaves past Baroque churches, the Carnavalet Museum's 85 rooms tracing the city's entire history, intimate Rococo galleries at the Cognacq-Jay, and Picasso's 5,000-work collection in the 17th-century Hôtel Salé. Wind down at the medieval Church of Saint-Gervais and the imposing Hôtel de Ville before losing yourself in the cobblestone lanes of Le Marais itself. Most museums here are closed on Mondays and the National Archives on Tuesdays, so plan for a Wednesday through Saturday visit; only the Picasso Museum charges admission (€16).