A historic and central district, the Marais is a must-see when you visit the City of Lights. On Sundays, much of the neighborhood is pedestrian-only. But in this trendy Parisian shopping district, often crowded, it's not always easy to navigate with young children. How to transform the ride into real child's play? Follow us!
11 am : Salute the bears at the Hunting and Nature Museum
This atypical museum occupies two mansions of the Marais, joined by a pretty paved courtyard. Since 2003, their thick walls host the private collection of the House of Hunting and Nature Foundation—a bric-a-brac-like oddities cabinet, which brings together paintings, hunting weapons from all eras, and also an entire room of hunting trophies and taxidermied animals from around the world. In the cozy halls, the children are very impressed: here, a life-size polar bear welcomes them; there, a wild boar shows its defenses. And is that a wolf, right there?! With the little ones, 45 minutes are enough to enjoy the discovery of a zoo frozen in time. An exotic walk, free for children under 18 years old. http://www.chassenature.org/
12:30 pm : Enjoy a crepe at the Breizh Café
This is the story of a Breton, Bertrand Larcher, who set up his first creperie in Tokyo in 1995, before returning to his native region in 2003, then settled in Paris in 2005. Today, with 9 crêperies in Japan, one in Saint-Malo, one in Cancale and two in Paris, Larcher's reputation is well established. Quality products, delicious and inventive crepes (and, of course, the classics!): his recipe is a certain success for the whole family. The service is very attentive, and it's a popular place, so it's better to make a reservation in advance. https://breizhcafe.com/fr/
2.30 pm : Swing high in place des Vosges
The oldest place in Paris is one of the most famous, and for a good reason. An almost perfect plaza, surrounded by mansions with identical facades made of pink bricks: it's a jewel. At the heart of the place, the Louis XIII square is a delight for passersby: lawns, poplars and chestnut trees offer an oasis of nature in the heart of this lively district. And it's also a paradise for children! Here, they can lie on the lawns, play football, make castles in the two sandboxes, and enjoy original and inventive games. Swings, slides and climbing of all kinds: an ideal spot for a break.
4 pm : Eat sweets at Chez Hélène
At the end of a small cobbled courtyard, so typical of the neighborhood, is Helene's stall. Pregnant with her first child, she decided to switch from a career in marketing to open a sweets confectionery. Here, wonderful cakes made from candy sit next to pretty colorful bins filled with sweet treats. Two days a week, Hélène offers workshops for children: creating a candy cake or set-by-step pastry classes. All workshops are also taught in English. http://chezheleneparis.com/
5 pm : Rummage at Bonton
This is the place to go shopping with your family: Bonton is one of the most popular French children's brands. This big concept-store (located on Boulevard Beaumarchais) is a real cave of wonders. Clothing, toys, decoration, books, sweets: everything a kid's imagination could think of. There is even a specialized hair salon for little ones. Before leaving the store, do not forget to immortalize the visit with a trip to the photo booth: lots of disguises are available for fun poses! https://www.bonton.fr/fr_us/
Recommandations et conseils Qui a dit que Paris n’était pas faite pour les enfants ? Avec ses places arborées et son esprit village, Le Marais fait, sans aucun doute, partie des quartiers amis des enfants. Participez vous aussi à rendre ce quartier encore plus agréable à vivre pour les plus jeunes, en optant pour les transports en commun pour vous déplacer ou en adoptant des solutions de mobilités douces (vélo, marche à pied, trottinette...). Un excellent moyen de rendre vos déplacements plus ludiques tout en participant à améliorer la qualité de l’air de la capitale. Belle exploration familiale à vous !
By Caroline Revol-Maurel
Journalist passionate about wild nature, travel and rock. As happy to write about bearded vultures as Lou Reed. Often accompanied by my two best critics, my daughters.
