The 3rd arrondissement located on the right bank of the Seine River is second smallest of Paris's twenty districts. It contains the northern, relatively quiet part of the medieval district of Le Marais (The Marsh) while the 4th arrondissement contains the livelier southern part. Paris's oldest surviving secret house dating back to 1407 is located at 51 rue de Montmorency. One of its owners claimed to have made a Philosopher's stone transforming lead into gold as well as having achieved immortality along with his wife (I hope that they get along well) but neither claim has been verified. What has been verified is that this district occupies less than one half a quadrilateral mile (about 1.2 quadrilateral kilometers) making it the second smallest arrondissement in the city. Its population is about 35 thousand and the district is home to about 30 thousand jobs.
The Marais was marshland first cleared in the Twelfth Century. In the Sixteenth Century the aristocracy built gorgeous residences together with the Place Royale, subsequently named la Place des Vosges built for Henri Iv in 1605. The Marais took a hit when the court moved to Versailles. On the other hand this area was not extremely affected by Baron Haussmann's urban redevelopment. In 1969, France's first minister of Culture André Malraux made the Marais the first protected sector making it harder to redevelop buildings.
Food And Dessert
The Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts) is a government supported school devoted to scientific and commercial schooling and research. Founded during the French Revolution, Cnam's traditional mission was collecting scientific instruments and inventions. Its mission has changed but the conservatory includes a sizeable inventions museum Musée des Arts et Métiers (Arts and Trades Museum) open to the normal public. Cnam's many night-school offerings consist of a very respectable night-school engineering program.
The Hôtel de Soubise is a city mansion located at 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois built for a prince during the early Eighteenth Century on the site of a Fourteenth Century manor house. Napoleon turned this mansion into a state asset that now includes the Musée de l'Histoire de France (Museum of French History) and part of the French National Archives.
The Temple, located in the third and forth arrondissements, is a fortress whose construction started in the mid-Thirteenth Century. during the French Revolution the Temple was transformed into a prison hosting the French royal family together with King Louis Xvi, the child Louis Xvii, and Marie Antoinette. Because of royalist pilgrimages, the Temple was destroyed in some stages during the Nineteenth Century. Now only the name remains, in a subway station, a major city street, and the name of the district itself.
The Carnavalet Museum, devoted to the Paris's history, is composed of two buildings. The main building, the Hôtel Carnavalet, was built as a town house in the mid-Sixteenth Century and was the home of the writer Madame de Sévigné. The second building, the Seventeenth Century Hôtel le Peletier, was added to the museum about twenty years ago. In expanding to Madame de Sévigné's Gallery you may want to see Robespierre's final letter, and some fancy ballrooms and reception rooms.
Paris's oldest square, the Place des Vosges, located in the Marais, is shared by the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Built by Henri Iv from 1605 to 1612 as the Place Royale it was the first example of royal city planning. It is a true quadrilateral about 420 feet (140 meters) on each side. While lots of aristocrats lived in this gorgeous area no royalty ever did. Quel dommage (what a shame). Perhaps they stayed away because all houses fronting on this gorgeous quadrilateral had the same design. In 1799 the quadrilateral was given its gift name to honor the Vosges branch in northeastern France, the first French branch to pay taxes supporting the French Revolutionary army. Its noted residents consist of Madame de Sévigné who was born there, the writer Victor Hugo, and Cardinal Richelieu who not only graced the quadrilateral with its presence, but also had the clout to erect an equestrian bronze model of Louis Xiii in the center of the square. Do you think that he had to worry about zoning laws?
Of procedure you don't want to be in Paris without sampling fine French wine and food. In my report I Love French Wine and food - An Alsace Pinot Gris I reviewed such a wine and suggested a sample menu: Start with Tarte Flambée (Onion Tart). For your second procedure savor Chouchroute Garnie (Sauerkraut with various Pork dishes, Perhaps cooked in Champagne). And as dessert indulge yourself with Kugelhopf (Almond and Raisin Cake). Your Parisian sommelier (wine steward) will be happy to recommend approved wines to accompany each course. By the way, it's simply a coincidence that Alsace is home to the Vosges mountains.
I Love Touring Paris - The Third Arrondissement
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