smdussing

Can someone tell me about this area? We have reserved two rooms at the Villa de la Reine (Place de Voges) for almost a week and have learned through an old magazine (National Geographic Travel Magaine, 2001) article that the Marais is a center of gay night life in Paris. Is this true? While this is all well and good it it not what we are looking for, want something much quieter. I selected this hotel because it is a starred recommendation of Fodor's and I have always had superb luck with this book.

Advise quickly, please. We are getting down to the wire... I welcome your comments.

Flyboy

I think you will find that Place des Vosges is neither a rowdy nor an uncomfortable area for your stay in Paris.

francophile03

I'm just wondering if your hotel is actually Pavillon de La Reine instead of Villa de La Reine?

If it's the Pavillon de La Reine it's not too noisy in that area I believe especially if you ask for a room away from the street.

Besides the Marais is a nice area.

Iregeo

The Place des Vosges, on the Eastern side of the Marais, is really charming. Not at all loud and rowdy. The more lively part of this area is further west. It does look like a fun part of town, but shouldn't impact your peace and quiet.

LarryJG62

The Marais has a vibrant nightlife, both for gay and straight people. Most of the gay bars in the Marais are located on or close to rue Vielle du Temple (below rue des Francs Bourgeois) and west. Things get crowded and bustling there but are hardly ever rowdy. Unless you're going to be there during gay pride week or Bastille Day, I wouldn't worry too much about the noise around the Place des Vosges.

You won't want for a nice place to eat in the Marais either.

wesley

In all my years of visiting Paris (the apartment I own is located in the Marais), I've never thought of Marais' gay scene as rowdy. European attitudes, including those of gay folk, do not invite or condone public displays of drunken debauchery.The few clubs (bars) that offer dance music (mostly small and easy to miss) wouldn't be tolerated in Paris if they were a neighborhood nuisance.

The Marais offers a unique, upbeat energy in large part due to its gay residents but it's also one of Paris' most intimate neighborhoods, offering charm and fascinating history at every turn. The majority of residents are wealthy, "straight" apartment owners who knew a good thing when they invested in this area years ago.

There is no such thing as the equivalence to San Francisco's Castro Street in France or Italy.

To equate everyday gay life with a 24/7 Mardi Gras is simply ignorant and uninformed. Sort of like assuming all gay men have style. Yes, we certainly know how to live well and have fun but, I for one, love a good night's sleep seven days a week.

clairobscur

There are several different areas in the Marais. Part of it is mostly very quiet streets with old mansions and "old-style" street lamps, part of it is a shopping area, where you would buy clothes or decoration items, part of it is is the traditionnal Jewish quarter, and indeed part of it is the gay district (right next to the Jewish district, by the way, so you're passing by gay bars, and next thing you know, they're replaced by kosher shops).

The "place des Vosges" is long away from the gay district, which is on the other side of the Marais, close to the Beaubourg modern art museum. The place des Vosges is IMO the most beautiful square in Paris, due to the XVII? century buildings and archways surrounding it. There are some interesting shops and restaurants under the archways. And also the Victor Hugo museum.

It's lively during the day, and quite often there are bands playing, either jazz or classical music. As a poster pointed out, the residents are wealthy, and even very wealthy. The appartments (with 20' high ceilings) in these buildings are very costly.

Singletail

If you are, in fact, staying in the Pavillon de la Reine you'll find that the hotel is located through a doorway and then a small coutryard directly off the Place des Vosges. Even if there were some sort of MAJOR demonstartion taking place on the Place itself you probably wouldn't be aware of it.
Gay folk aren't any more rowdy than those people swirling around the Rick Steves' temple to tourism called the Rue Cler...relax...take the advice of those above and shed your outdated stereotypes of others in the process as you enjoy all that Paris has to offer.

mitchdesj

ANY lively bar/nightlife area is to be avoided for quietness in any city.....

amelia

I suspect you're worrying that because National Geographic gave that title, you'll be living on the Parisian equivalent of New Orlean's Bourbon St. No, no, no. It's a great area. Even the rowdiest streets--and you're away from those--are worlds quieter than the French Quarter in New Orleans. You'll be staying near a little park with swing sets and slides, so while your afternoon nap might be disturbed, your evenings should be just fine.

This is our (family of four) favorite area of Paris in around 10 visits there.

smdussing

Thanks to all for encouraging us to pursue the Marais portion of our trip and to stay at Pavillion de la Reine. We are anticipating that portion of the trip more than ever, for all of the right reasons.

SalB

The Place des Vosges is arguably the most beautiful Place in Paris. It's a small green area with trees and fountains and a center of family life in the area. During the day you will see many young mothers and/or nannies watching their small charges in the park. Think "family area."

The only noise we've ever noticed was classical music played on either side of the Place on weekend mornings. It's lovely to open your hotel window to Mozart.

As an added bonus, there are a couple very nice restaurants right on the Place des Vosges. You should enjoy your trip.