Paris Walks Marais

Paris Walks Marais 4th Arrondissment: Châtelet to Picasso for Tea Lovers

Paris Walks Marais begins our self-guided walk with a view of the 17th century at the historic Châtelet Metro stop and we will finish our walk at the Picasso Museum.

Along the way we will stop for dejeuner (our mid-day meal) at a famous tea shop. You will also find many enjoyable little shops to explore as you make your way through this walk in the Marais. It is a short walk if you don’t go in any of the shops, but where is the fun in that!

Duration: 18 minutes

Length: 0.9 miles (to the Picasso Museum, approximately 1.75 miles if you return to the BHV to shop)

Points to Explore: Châtelet Metro, Tour Saint Jacques, Mariage Frères Tea, Palais du Thé, Picasso Museum , BHV department store (optional)(Note: These POINTS in green correspond to the map.

Point A

When you arrive via the Châtelet Metro (POINT A) stop be sure to look up at the vaults in the ceiling above the tracks. These vaults are some of the oldest in Paris and date back to the 17th century. Exit the metro on Rue de Rivoli. Walk down Rivoli past Rue de Sébastopol to the Square of St Jacques.

Point B

Tour St Jacques
The 171 foot Tower of Saint Jacques (POINT B) is all that remains of the church Saint Jacques la Boucherie. This beautiful bell tower has a statue of Saint Jacques at the top, pointing the way for pilgrims following the Compostela Way to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostello in Spain where it is believed that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried.Also at the top of the tower is a meteorology station and at the base a statue of Blaise Pascal, commemorating his atmospheric experiments here (although there is some debate that the location may have been Saint Jacques du Haut Pas – Paris Secret et Insolite) . July – September you can book a tour to climb to the top of the tower. Details can be found here.
Continue this Paris walks Marais down Rue de Rivoli, passing the BHV, Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville. This is a great place to go shopping, and the map below shows you how to return after this tour.

Point C
Our destination at the moment is Mariage Frères Tea shop (POINT C) where we want to arrive in time for lunch. If you are not a fan of hot tea, the next two stops may just change your mind. However, you can order thé glacée (iced tea) with your lunch if you prefer.
Mariage Frères has several shops around Paris

If you do not arrive in time for lunch at least take time for a macaron with your tea. They have also have a wide selection of other delightful pastries. Note that there are two tea shops across the street from each other here. Visit the smaller shop on your left as there you will be able to smell the various teas before deciding what you want to buy to take home. This will also help you select a tea for your meal in the shop on the other side of the street. This little shop is always less crowded than the larger shop that contains the tea room. I have my favorites at Mariage Frères that I just cannot go without – try the Wedding Imperial and see if you don’t agree with me.

Point D

Palais des Thés
Leaving the tea room, turn right and walk to the corner of Rue Bourg Tibourg and Rue St Merri where you will turn right again and then left on Rue Vieille du Temple. Continue your stroll to the Palais des Thés (POINT D). My favorite tea at Palais du Thé is the Thé du Sables, which is a green tea with the aroma of cookies. Teas make excellent souvenirs for friends back home because they pack easily and weigh very little.

Point E
Our final destination is the Picasso Museum (POINT E) . I’m so glad it has reopened after a huge renovation.Now that your self-guided Paris Walks Marais is compIete, you can follow the alternate route in red back to the BHV for a bit of shopping fun. You will be only one city block from the Hotel de Ville Metro stop that you passed at the beginning of the walk.