Day Trip : Village Saint-Paul
What if I told you that there's a secret, hidden historic village full of antique shops, restaurants, and artists that you could visit? AND that this special place is right in the heart of Paris? Yes! I am about to share with you a day trip that doesn't require train tickets or an excursion outside of the city.
Bienvenue to the Village Saint-Paul. This isn't just a name either – it is a real village, a haven of peace and tranquility. This set of buildings constitutes a pedestrian maze accessible by small passages under the arches, in the immediate vicinity of the Church of Saint Paul.
Saint-Paul Village
Around 1200, Philippe-Auguste decided to build an enclosure to protect the city. The swampy area then remained on the edge of the fortified Marais. Its "peripheral" location interested the future King Charles V, eager to leave the Louvre, and he undertook a project in 1360 to install a royal hotel there: the Hotel Saint-Paul. More than a palace, the hotel made up an agglomeration of houses in the middle of gardens.
The current Rue des Lions-Saint-Paul takes its name from the royal menagerie of Charles V, where one could admire the first lions seen in Europe. Charles V also had a new wall built and, this time, the Marais district was integrated into the city, in the shadow of the Bastille prison.
One hundred years later, the hotel was dismantled and around 1550, streets were dug on its site.
Don’t Miss
Restaurant
An unmissable event dedicated to plants, biodiversity, & garden trends, the Chantilly Plant Days brings together more than 200 of the most prestigious nurseries and exhibitors in Europe. Spring & Fall. Website.
Morocco shop
Leisure garden with waterfalls, fountains & flowers, plus an art gallery, theater & petting zoo.
DADS Den
Created in 1985, the museum now preserves nearly 1000 pieces of lace. Website.
History
In 1941, the Seine prefecture, backed by the Vichy regime, carried out a large-scale eviction process, tragically including many of the Jewish inhabitants, many never to return.
At the Liberation, the problem of rehousing imposed a rapid rehabilitation of the apartments within the perimeter. The 1962 Malraux law turned this area into a "protected sector", preserving the Village Saint-Paul.
Saint-Paul Village is today like a small hidden market in the heart of the Marais, offering a wide variety of products: furniture and decoration, games and toys, antiques/flea markets, and restaurants. Today, Saint-Paul Village is home to more than 40 boutiques of designers, antique dealers, and gallery owners, whose doors you can enter every day, including Sundays.
Some stalls are more hidden than others, and you will have to enter the small paved courtyards of the village to find them.
This is the place to be for an original and quality shopping session, especially for everything related to the home: furniture, lighting, works of art, and decorations. There's something for everyone!
The Saint-Paul Shopping
I first discovered the Village Saint-Paul during my second trip to Paris. It was nothing like it is now. There have been many renovations to the courtyards, especially during the pandemic. Back then, she was rather rustic and undiscovered. I used to dig through baskets of mismatched silverware and china, linens, and pine over giant ceramic cookware that wouldn't fit in my luggage.
While I now prefer vide greniers and brocantes in rural France, this is an excellent antiques shopping experience if you don't want to leave Paris or don't have the time. Currently, shop owners are willing to negotiate prices as they have excess inventory from the pandemic and tourists are only just now returning to the city.
In addition to the vintage shops, be sure to explore the artisans and makers dotted throughout the courtyards. The connecting pathways are not always evident, so be brave and explore from one area to the next so you don't miss anything.
There are also a lot of shops along the exterior of the village.
BEST OF
VISIT
L'ENOTECA
25 Rue Charles V, 75004 Paris
Elevated Italian cuisine & a robust wine list in a cozy, classy locale also offering pizzas to go. LINK.
EAT
ARDÈCHE À PARIS
21 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris
Artisanal epicerie featuring products from the Ardèche south-east region of France. LINK.
SHOP
CAVE SAINT-PAUL
8 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris
Lovely pet-friendly shop with friendly staff. All bottles are hand-selected and there are often events on Saturday evenings. LINK.
DRINK
LE POTAGER DU MARIAS
26 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris
Charming venue dishing up vegan versions of classic French dishes, plus gluten-free options. LINK.
LOGISTICS
WALK
GOOGLE MAPS
Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris. When you arrive, start looking for entrances with flags that say "Village Saint-Paul."
METRO
Saint-Paul or Pont Marie
Check out my new YouTube video that shares step by step how to use the Paris Metro. LINK.
STAY
Hôtel Charles V
This 4-STAR luxury hotel in front of Village Saint-Paul was designed as an elegant Gustavian residence, intimate and welcoming. The very soft tones, blue, gray and white, offer a refined atmosphere that calls for serenity. LINK.
TOUR
April in Paris Tours
Let April Pett guide you through Paris! She also offers custom tours based on your unique needs.
