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Walking Tour of the Marais Neighborhood

By , About.com Guide

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Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine
Walking Tour of the Marais Neighborhood

The charm and quiet of the plaza is famous among Parisians.

©2006 Courtney Traub.

Directions:

Exit the church and cross Rue Saint-Antoine. Continue walking straight, down Rue de Sévigne. Make a direct right onto Rue d'Ormesson. You should find yourself on a quaint square, la Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine. Yes, there are a lot of saints on this tour.

The Square

The Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine is an example of how quaint and village-like the Marais can be-- though during weekends and high tourist season, this is not always the case.

Enjoy the cheerful atmosphere of the square. You may see neighborhood kids bounding about: this is a favorite spot for play.

Interesting Facts:

  • Built in the 13th century, in honor of Saint Catherine

  • The buildings surrounding the square are recent, in Parisian terms anyway: they date to the 18th century.

  • The square was made pedestrian-only last century. Since then, it has become a favorite spot for laid-back, greenery-enhanced sipping and nibbling. Take an opportunity to do so here, if you'd like.

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