Paris - Marais and The Bastille

The Marais, which means "marsh" or "swamp" fist became a fashionable address back when King Charles V moved his court here in 14^th century. The Marais is one of the city's most historic and sought-after residential districts. Except for the architecturally whimsical Pompidou Center, the tone here is set by the gracious architecture of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Largely in commemoration of the bicentennial of the French Revolution, the Bastille are was renovated and became one of the trendiest sections of Paris. Strolling through the bustling Marais streets today, it's easy to appreciate the fabulous gold-hue facades of these buildings.

  

 CENTER POMPIDOU - The Centre Pompidou broke the mold with its 'inside out' construction: the steel skeleton from which the floors are suspended dominantly visible from the outside, together with the giant external escalators, with the color-coded service ducts exposed on both the inside and out. Now that the fact of these appearances is no longer shocking, attention focus on how they are done. Twenty years, on the escalator remains a phenomenon, and the plaza continues to thrive, but the exhibition spaces themselves, and the rather dry, regular block shape of the overall building, are beginning to come across as almost a little dull.

 MAISON de VICTOR HUGO – set on beautiful 17^th century Place des Vosages, this house was the residence of the workaholic author famed Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He lived here between 1832 and 1848 and memorabilia on view include several of his atmospheric, Gothic-horror-movie-like sketches, tribute to Hugos unsuspected talent as an artist, along with illustrations for his writings by the other artist. Upstairs, in Hugo's original apartment , you can see the tall desk where he stood to write, along with furniture from several of his homes – including the Chinese-theme panels and woodwork he commissioned for his mistress. Opens Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Free admission. Metro Station: St.Paul

 MUSEE PICASSO – house in the 17^th century Hotel Sale, this museum has the largest collection of Picassos in the world. The museum gives you a great snapshot of the painter's life. The building is showing some of the wear and tear that goes with being one of the city's most popular museums; on peak summer afternoons this place is more congested than the Gare du Lyon. Opens 9:30am to 5:30pm. Metro station: St. Sebastien.

 PLACE DE LA BASTILLE – an excellent place to visit if you are planning to overthrow a monarchy, the Place de la Bastille is also a great jumping-off point for lunch. Nothing remains on the infamous Bastille prison destroyed at the beginning of the French Revolution. As part of the countrywide celebrations for July 1989, the bicentennial of the French Revolution, the Opera de la Bastille was erected, inspiring substantial redevelopment on the surrounding streets, especially along Rue de Lappe and Rue de la Roquette. Metro Station: Bastille

 PLACE DES VOSGES – the oldest monumental square in Paris. Originally known as Place Royal, it has kept its Renaissance beauty nearly intact, although its buildings have been softened by time, their pale pink brick crumbling slightly in the harsh Parisian air and the darker stone facings pitted with age. The two larger buildings on either side of the square were originally the king's and queen's pavilions. The statue in the center is of Louis XIII