Walking tour: Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville, Le Marais

A- Start the Tour at Notre de Paris Cathedral on Ile de la Cité, on of the two islands on the Seine River in Paris. This considered to be the heart of Paris and the Kilometer 0 in France. Enjoy the Cathedral, and the Flower market next to the Prefecture de Police, the Police HQ.

B- On the same Island, visit the Chapelle Royale or Sainte Chappelle which is hidden in Palais de Justice (court house). The Chappelle Royale is a pure beauty of the Gothic Style and probably one of the most beautiful churches in Paris.

C- Cross the bridge towards Hotel de Ville, the main City Hall. If you have time, you can visit the Library inside the building at the back entrance, which will give you a sense of the beauty of the building.

D- Walk the Rivoli in the opposite way of traffic or enjoy the small streets prallel to it like Saint Antoine. If you are hungry, you can have lunch in one of the restaurants at Place du Bourg Tibourg and do the visit in the opposite way from here.

E- You can cross the Hotel de Sully, one of the most beautiful Louis de XIII's period, and its nice gardens and go forward to Place des Vosges. It's the nicest way to get to Place des Vosges as the gardens are openned during the opening hours of the Palace. (The Palace can not be visited from the inside)

F- In place des Vosges you can have lunch at Ma Bourgogne Typical French restaurant, or have a snack/desert at Carette, a famous pastry and tea house.

G- If you're a litterature fan, you need to visit Victor Hugo's house, the most famous French writer.

H- Walk to Musée Carnavalet, the Museum of the City of Paris. It's a free musuem with rich collections of paintings and sculptures, and more importantly, a few fabulous small scale reproductions of Paris during several centuries. These masterpieces will allow you to see how used to be Paris in the old times, and follow the city's architectural evolution.

I- Continue wondering in the old charming streets of the Marais, like Rue des Francs Bourgeois, Rue Pavée, Rue des Rosiers, Rue des Roies de Sicile,.. and enjoy these charming old streets where you have the most trendy shops in the city. Le Marais is similar to Soho or Chueca, and the Gay neighborhood of Paris.

J- Eat or have a drink at Rue du Bourg Tibourg in front of Place Baudoyer, in the Café l'étincelle. They have a nice terrasse and good food. My favourite at this place.Less