A Local’s Guide to the 4th Arrondissement of Paris
Last Updated on 14th May 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Home to one of the world’s most famous cathedrals and spanning two islands on the River Seine, the 4th arrondissement is filled with historic sites and leafy green public squares. From the trendiest neighbourhood of the capital to the finest ice cream in France. Here’s your insider’s neighbourhood guide on the best things to do in the 4th arrondissement of Paris!
Contents
- Where is the 4th arrondissement?
- What is the 4th arrondissement known for?
- Best things to do in the 4th arrondissement
- Discover beautiful streets
- Le Marais
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Square Jean XXIII
- City Hall, Hôtel de Ville
- Place des Vosges
- House of Victor Hugo
- Île Saint-Louis
- Berthilion ice cream
- The Centre Pompidou
- The Defender of Time clock
- Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP)
- The Shoah Memorial
- Parish Church of Saint-Paul of Saint-Louis
Where is the 4th arrondissement?
Also known as Hôtel-de-Ville (home to the city hall of Paris) the 4th arrondissement is situated on the right bank of the River Seine. The 4th arrondissement is the third smallest of the 20 arrondissements of Paris.
What is the 4th arrondissement known for?
The 4th arrondissement is home to many important historical sites of Paris, including the beloved Notre Dame cathedral and the Renaissance-era style city hall, Hôtel de Ville. Known for its abundance of medieval architecture, and narrow cobbled lanes, this charming district is popular among visitors of the French capital.
Found in the southern area of Le Marais, you’ll find a vibrant, concentrated pocket of gay bars, making it extremely popular among the LGBTQ+ community.
Similar to that of the 3rd arrondissement, a large Jewish community can be found situated at The Pletzl, which translates as “little place” in Yiddish.
Best things to do in the 4th arrondissement
Discover beautiful streets
If there’s one thing that I love doing in the fourth arrondissement, it’s simply strolling around and allowing the area to reveal itself to me. There are a few streets that I love in particular and consider to be among some of the most beautiful streets in Paris:
- Rue de Sevigné: This street provides particularly beautiful views onto the church of Saint-Louis and Saint-Paul and is also home to the Musée Carnavalet.
- Rue des Barres: This cobbled lane is famed for its colourful sidewalk cafés, lies in the shadow of the church of Saint Gervais, and some of the cafés here were even featured in the Paris episode of Gossip Girl.
Le Marais
Le Marais, a former swampy marshland which once lay outside the city perimeters, spans across both the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris. Considered to be the trendiest neighbourhood of Paris, particularly the part which is found in the 4th arrondissement.
Known locally as “SoMa,” for South Marais, this area is full of life and home to the best gay bars in Paris. You’ll also find several hip cafés, galleries, vintage clothes and boutiques filled with treasures. To find out more about the best spots, read our self-guided Le Marais walking tour guide.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame has been around for over 860 years, and to this day it remains both the physical and spiritual heart of the French capital. Found on an island known as, Île de la Cité, the oldest part of Paris and archaeological evidence suggests human habitation on the isle for millennia.
Welcoming a whopping 20 million visitors per year, Notre Dame de Paris is the most visited monument in all of Europe! Of course, many will know that in 2019 a devastating fire happened, causing the iconic symbol of the city to be closed until further notice while they work on its repairs.
The cathedral is particularly famed for being a leading example of Gothic medieval architecture. Innovative in design, the flying buttresses are some of the finest of their kind and have influenced the Gothic architecture style across Europe.
Further contributing to the cathedral’s position in the hearts of Parisians and the French, the ecclesiastical building is the setting for Victor Hugo’s 19th-century novel, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Square Jean XXIII
Located close by to Notre Dame is one of the most tranquil spots in the city. Formerly known as Square of the Archbishopric, this fairly large green space sits squarely in the centre of Île de la Cité. Square Jean XXIII is named after Pope John XVIII, who held the papal office in the mid-1900s.
Until the tragic fire at Notre Dame, the fluffy blossoms here were a must-see for anyone seeking out cherry trees in the City of Light. Luckily, there are plenty of other beautiful locations where you can still see spring blooms. Here’s our ultimate guide to the best cherry blossoms in Paris.
City Hall, Hôtel de Ville
The Hôtel de Ville de Paris has been the seat of the Paris City Council since 1357. However, the building we see today is a reconstructed version of the former one which burnt down during the Paris Commune in 1871. Powerful and prestigious, after its construction the building hosted one of the most elite parties to celebrate in all of Paris!
Simply looking at Hôtel de Ville is enough to leave you in awe, but if you are fascinated and want to explore further on a guided tour, it’s only possible to by reservation.
Place des Vosges
Nestled in the heart of Le Marais, close to the Seine and surrounded by cute boutiques, Place des Vosges, originally known as the Place Royale, is the oldest planned square in Paris.
Constructed in the 17th century on the site of the former grand mansion house, Hôtel de Tournelles, it was the first public planned square in the city. In 1612, the perfectly shaped square was officially opened to the public to celebrate the engagement of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria.
Strolling through the park today, you can almost imagine the excitement of such a beautiful space opening all those years ago. Little has changed in the past few centuries and the surrounding area is awash with history.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with friends in the summertime or sip on a warm Chocolat Chaud ‘en terrace’ in the winter.
House of Victor Hugo
Situated just next to the Place des Vosges is the former residence of the renowned writer, Victor Hugo. Here you can see where the Hunchback of Notre Dame (i.e. one of the most iconic books about Paris) writer lived and worked until his exile by Napoleon.
The house is now a small house museum, free to visit and worth a quick peek around. Inside, you’ll find a large array of paintings and plenty of extravagant furniture.
Île Saint-Louis
This small natural island is right at the heart of Paris’ historic centre. Once coined as being the “Island of Palaces” as its home to many mansions, some of which have been preserved for over four centuries. This tranquil pocket of peace is often overlooked by its neighbouring island Île de la Citê.
Known for its architectural gems and abundant with beautiful doorways, there are plenty of things to do in Île Saint-Louis. Offering a quieter setting than that of the rest of the city, this charming and unique gem of Paris was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Berthilion ice cream
Hands down the best ice cream to be found in the French capital! This iconic tea room and ice cream shop is said to have rose to fame in 1961 when French restaurant guide, Gault Millau, wrote about how “astonishing” this place was.
The Berthilon family have been serving their delights for over 70 years, priding themselves on using the highest quality ingredients. The ratio of ingredients used for this indulgent treat remains a hidden secret!
Truly a memorable French dessert, this Parisian delicacy is an absolute must-try when visiting. Oh, and if ice cream isn’t your thing, they have sorbet galore. The delicate notes and fruity texture mean that the sorbet quite literally tastes just like the fruit itself!
The Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou is a modern installation of architectural engineering, the tube-like ‘inside out’ architecture is quite a unique sight to come across while exploring the historic cobbled streets of Paris.
Home to a plethora of 20th-century artwork, inside the museum visitors will soon discover delights such as Picasso paintings and those by Georges Bracques. If you head up to the rooftop terrace of the museum, you’ll even get to spy one of the best views of the city, offering a glimpse of Notre Dame and even the Eiffel Tower!
The Defender of Time clock
Designed by French artist, Jacques Monestier, the impressive brass clock is around 4 metres high and weighs one ton! the clock was unveiled to the public in autumn of 1979, when it was officially opened by then mayor of Paris.
The automaton heavy piece features a man perched atop a rock and wielding a sword and shield. 3D in nature, the scene is of the man fighting a crab, bird, and dragon, which in turn represent the sea, sky, and earth. When the clock was functioning, each hour would have depicted the man fighting one of the three animals.
Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP)
Opened in 1996, this centre houses a wide range of contemporary photographic art. Welcoming visitors to explore an impressive collection of photography which spans the history of international photography from the 1950s to the present.
The Shoah Memorial
Dedicated to Jewish history during the Second World War, The Shoah Memorial is a museum, with a central focus on the teaching of the Shoah. Shoah is the Hebrew word for “catastrophe” and specifically refers to the Holocaust and the millions of Jewish lives lost.
Parish Church of Saint-Paul of Saint-Louis
This was the first church to break away from the ever-popular Gothic style (its birthplace being northern France) and use the new Baroque style, influencing Parisian religious architecture. Constructed between 1627 to 1641, it was the first Jesuit church in Paris.
For a long time, Saint-Paul of Saint-Louis church was considered to be one of the most important religious buildings in the city. Inside this sacred gem, visitors are greeted by its intricately carved stone walls. A particular highlight has to be that of the church dome, letting in floods of light, at the time of its construction it was the biggest church dome to ever be built in the capital.
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