Quarter of Marais

Le Marais is the trendy Right Bank district. With large gay and Jewish populations it is a very culturally open place.  It spreads across parts of the IIIe and IVe arrondissements in Paris.

History

In the 12th century, the Ordre du Temple (Order of the Temple) cleared the marshlands to the north of Philippe Auguste's enclosure. From the 16th century onwards, the aristocracy built large residences in the area, a trend which was accelerated by the creation of the Place Royale (which would become the Place des Vosges) by Henri IV in 1605.The departure of the royal court to Versailles led to a decline in the district. Haussmann's urban redevelopment only marginally affected the Marais through new alignment rules and constructions, lending irregular width to many of the neighbourhood's streets. Towards the end of the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth century, the area surrounding the Rue des Rosiers became home to many Jews from Eastern Europe, further specializing local labour in the clothing industry. In 1969, André Malraux made the Marais the first "secteur sauvegardé" (protected sector), with the area being home to many museums, art galleries and historic sites. As with other parts of Paris, where shops are sold but their front not entirely redone when changing business, this protection measure can lead to certain comical results, such as a shop with a "bakery" front selling shoes.

Today

Today, the rue des Rosiers is still a major center of the Jewish community. Walls feature announcements of Jewish events; there are bookstores specialized in Jewish books; and also there are a vast amount of restaurants and other outlets selling kosher food, especially traditional Jewish fare such as falafel.
One of the most interesting street is the famous rue des Francs-Bourgeois, one of the rare streets of paris completely open on Sunday. The best shopping of le Marais.
The neighbourhood has experienced a growing gay presence since the 1980s, as evidenced by cafés, nightclubs, cabarets and shops.

Also in the IIIe and IVe arrondissements :

The Place des Vosges is Paris' oldest square still with its original buildings, and also, according to some, Paris' most beautiful square. The home of the famous french writer Victor Hugo.
LINK : http://www.v1.paris.fr/en/Visiting/SITE.ASP?SITE=02020
The Musée Picasso contains both the master's works and his collections.
LINK : site of Picasso museum
The undefinable Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers has on display the first prototypes of almost every important invention such as the first monoplane or numerous artifacts from the creation of the Statue of Liberty.
LINK : Site of Art et métiers
The Centre Georges Pompidou is a museum dedicated to contemporary art. LINK : site of Center Pompidou