What to see in the Third Arrondissement of Paris?

The Third arrondissement of Paris partly covers the historic district of Le Marais. It stretches from the Place des Vosges to the Place de la République and from Boulevard de Sébastopol to Boulevard Beaumarchais.

A few words about the Third arrondissement

It is the second smallest arrondissement of Paris, covering an area of 1.17 km2 with a population of 36,120 (2011). The 3rd arrt. partly covers the historic district of Le Marais and includes some beautiful residences of the French nobility from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Where to stay in the 3rd arrondissement?

Hotels in Paris vary from stunning luxurious places like the Ritz and the Meurice to much simpler hotels in charming older parts of the city. However, due to its central location, you will find the level of prices of all types of accommodation quite high in the 3rd arrt. Depending on your budget, might want to find cheaper accommodation further away from the hyper centre of Paris!

Here is a map showing the nearest accommodation:

Booking.com

Public institutions and organisations in the 3rd arrt.

Many public institutions have their seat in the 3rd arrt:

• the Town-Hall of the 3rd arrt. (Mairie du 3e arrt.) at 2 rue Eugène Spuller, built between 1864 and 1867 in Neo-Renaissance style
• the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), or National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts
• the Archives Nationales (National Archives), a complex comprising the Soubise and Rohan mansions.

Main places of interest in the 3rd arrt.

The 3rd arrt. is a touristic area particularly in its southern part (Marais). It shares with neighbouring arrondissements two of Paris’ famous squares: Place des Vosges and Place de la République.

The main places of interest in the 3rd arrondissement are:

• the Place des Vosges
• the Place de la République
• the Hôtel Carnavalet (also a museum dedicated to the history of Paris, see below)
• the Hôtel de Soubise (National Archives) with the medieval-looking Porte de Clisson (rue des Archives)
• the Hôtel de Rohan (National Archives)
• the Square du Temple and City-Hall of the 3rd arrt.
• the Nicolas Flamel House, believed to be Paris’ oldest stone house
• the House of Jean Hérouet, a Gothic mansion
• the half-timbered house at 3 rue Volta
• the picturesque market of Marché des Enfants Rouges
• the unusual métro station of Arts et Métiers based on steam power with a hint of science fiction

Museums in the 3rd arrt.

• the Carnavalet Museum (Museum dedicated to the history of Paris). Currently closed for renovation work. Due to reopen early 2020
• the princess’ apartments in the Hôtel de Soubise
• the Picasso National Museum in Hôtel Salé >> Get your Priority Entrance Ticket! <<
• the Museum of Arts and Crafts (musée des Arts et Métiers)
• the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme)
• the Cognacq Jay museum
• the Doll Museum (musée de la Poupée)

Historic churches in the 3rd arrt.

The district also includes some historic churches:

• St. Nicolas-des-Champs (15th-16th centuries) – Flamboyant Gothic,
• St. Martin-des-Champs, now the Arts and Crafts museum (11th-13th centuries) – Romanesque and Gothic,
• St. Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement (first half of the 19th century) – NeoClassical,
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary (17th century) – Baroque, and
• the Sainte-Croix Armenian catholic cathedral, formerly the church of St-Jean-St-François (1623) – Renaissance and NeoClassical

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