Monuments and historic sites close to the Hotel Les Tournelles

The Hotel Les Tournelles, situated in the heart of the Marais, enjoys a particularly privileged location. Discover the many Parisian monuments and historic places nearby.

Place de la Bastille

This square is famed as the cradle of the French Revolution of 1789. Here once stood the Bastille, a prison that symbolised the absolute power of the Ancien Régime. In the centre of the square stands the famous July Column surmounted by the colossal gilded figure of the Genie de la Liberté (Spirit of Freedom), an homage to the Revolution of 1830. Discover the picturesque streets of this district situated between Faubourg Saint-Antoine and the Opera.

Opera Bastille

An emblematic monument and a large modern theatre, the Opéra Bastille designed by Carlos Ott, a Canadian-Uruguayan architect, was inaugurated in July 1989. Notice the beauty of its transparent facades and external staircase, its austere yet tasteful interior, the arena-format auditorium with exceptional acoustics, and a movable orchestra pit. Take a guided tour backstage to discover secrets generally unseen by the public.

Place des Vosges

Formerly known as the Place Royale, the Place des Vosges was built at the behest of Henri IV in 1605 and became the fashionable meeting place for the aristocracy. A listed historical monument since 1954, it is distinguished by its precisely square shape and the architecture of the surrounding buildings. It houses the Hôtel de Sully, former residence of the Duc de Sully, a minister of King Henri IV. At no. 6 is the Maison de Victor Hugo, where the author wrote part of Les Misérables and which is now a museum devoted to his memory.

Church of St. Paul

A building steeped in history, the Église Saint-Paul dates from the 17th century and has been a listed historical monument since 1887. It was completely restored in 2012. This originally Jesuit church has the distinction of having abandoned its Gothic style to embrace baroque architecture after the banishment of the Jesuits in 1762.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

A building symbolic of the capital and the most visited holy place in France, Notre-Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. A true witness to the history of Paris and France, it was here that some of the nation’s landmark events took place, including the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, the weddings of French kings such as Henri IV and, more recently, the funeral of Abbé Pierre. For a breathtaking view of the City of Light, climb the cathedral’s towers and get a close-up look at its famous chimeras and gargoyles en route.

Hôtel de Ville de Paris

Built in 1357 on the old Place de Genève by the architect Etienne Marcel, Paris City Hall and its many fountains is well worth a look from the outside but can also be toured by request. This neo-Renaissance building also hosts regularly renewed temporary exhibitions.

******

Hotel Les Tournelles, a 3-star hotel in the heart of the Marais