In the center of Paris is a charming area called the Marais. After the big sights such as the Eiffel Tower, it is one of the most popular area visited by tourists due to it's narrow streets, old buildings and variety of shops, boutiques and bars. However, even despite the tourism, it has managed to fight off the forces of commercialism and is still a favorite area of the Parisiens.
The word Marais means 'swamp' in French, and indeed originally the Marais area was a swamp. In the tenth century, while the city only occupied the islands on the Seine, the swamp was drained and reclaimed to extend the borders. However, it was another four hundred years before the area began to truly flourish when grand buildings such as the royal hotel des Tournelles and the hotel Saint-Pol were built (hotel in this sense doesn't mean guests and mini-bars, but grand buildings built by the aristocracy). For another two hundred years the Marais continued to be an area of grandeur with beautiful areas such as the place des Vosges.
This period was not to last forever, and by the 18th century the Marais was neglected. The area had become a slum and a jewish ghetto, spurned by the rest of the city. However, the poor state of the Marais was ultimately to become it's savior, when at the end of the 19th century Baron Haussmann started one of the greatest urban reconstruction projects ever seen in the world. Ironically it was not the reconstruction that created the Marais as we see today, but the lack of it in that area. Haussmann felt that the Marais wasn't worthy of reconstruction, and the slum was left untouched while the rest of Paris was transformed with broad boulevards and grand buildings. As the rest of Paris flourished in grandeur, eyes gradually turned to the Marais as prime real estate. Fortunately, a man called Le Corbusier recognized the beauty of the ancient buildings, and decrees were made to prevent the demolition of the Marais and other old areas of the city.
It took a long time for the Marais to truly reach it's present beauty. Even mid-20th century areas such as the Place des Vosges had a grim and neglected appearance. However, after the war and protected even further in the 1960's by French law, the Marais has become a highly desired area. The buildings are now clean and well kept, magnificently glorious in all their ancient splendor.
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Orly (ORY) Beauvais (BVA)
Charles de Gaulle
Website: www.adp.fr
Contact numbers
Customer service: +33 (0) 48 62 22 80 (24h)
Medical center: +33 (0) 48 62 28 00 (24)
Lost and found: Paris ? CDG1 : +33 (0) 48 62 12 34 Paris ? CDG2 : +33 (0) 48 16 63 83
Breakdown service (24h): Paris ? CDG1 : +33 (0) 48 62 63 63 Paris ? CDG2 & 3 : +33 (0) 48 62 21 17
Police: +33 (0) 48 62 31 22 (24h)
Customs: +33 (0) 48 62 62 85 (24h)
Getting to and from the airport
Taxi Taxis charge around 55? from the airport to central Paris. Limousine Service for around 120 Euros. Depending on traffic, a taxi takes between 35 and 60 minutes to get to central Paris.
Bus Roissy Bus service departs from all three terminals every 15 minutes between 6am and 7pm, and every 20 minutes between 7pm and 11pm. The bus goes to Place de l'Opera in Paris, and takes between 45 and 60 minutes. A single fare costs 8.50?. There are also many shuttlebus companies in Paris, who will provide a door to door service. Prices are typically 18? per adult.
Rail The RER train (Line B) takes you from Terminal 1 and 2 to the following stops in Paris; Gare Du Nord, Ch?telet- Les Halles, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, and Denfert Rochereau. From the RER stop at the airport however, all these stations are referred to as Paris, although there isn't a stop called Paris or gare du Paris etc. Tickets are 8.10? per adult and the trains leave every 10 to 15 minutes. Travel time is about 30 to 45 minutes. Airlines
Aer Lingus Aeroflot Aerolineas Argentinas Aeromexico Air Canada Air China Air Columbus Air Europa Air France Air Gabon Air India Air Inter Air Jet Air Madagascar Air Mauritius Air Moldova Air Seychelles Alitalia All Nippon American Trans Air Ariana Afghan Airlines Austrian Airlines Aviaco Avianca Azzurra Air Balkan Bulgarian BMI Brit Air British Airways CAE Cameroon Airlines Cathay Pacific Continental Cyprus Airways Czech Airlines Delta Air Lines Deutsche Lufthansa Emirates EVA Air Finnair First Choice Airways Garuda Indonesia Gemini Iberia Icelandair Cargo Istanbul Airlines Jat Airways Swiss TAS Airways TEA Italie
Lost and found: Orly-Sud : +33 (0) 49 75 34 10 Orly-Ouest : +33 (0) 49 75 42 34
Breakdown service: +33 (0) 49 75 56 50 (24h)
Police: +33 (0) 49 75 43 04 (24h)
Customs: +33 (0) 49 75 09 10 (24h)
Getting to and from the airport
Taxi A taxi to central Paris costs about 45 Euros. Depending on traffic, a taxi takes between 35 and 60 minutes to get to central Paris.
Bus Orlybus takes you to Denfert-Rochereau, where the metro can be taken to central Paris. Tickets are 6? per adult and travel time is 30 minutes. Buses leave every 15 to 20 minutes. There are also many shuttlebus companies in Paris, who will provide a door to door service. Prices are typically 18? per adult.
Rail The Orly shuttle takes you to the Antony RER stop, and costs 7.20? per adult - however if you're travelling into central Paris, buy a ticket to 'Paris' which costs 9.20? per adult. Departure times are every 4 to 7 minutes, and travel time is 8 minutes. From Antony the RER (line B) takes you into central Paris, stopping at Denfert Rochereau, Port-Royal, Luxembourg, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Ch?telet- Les Halles, and Gare Du Nord. From Antony however, these stops are grouped at Paris - Center, and these isn't a single stop called Paris or Gare du Paris etc. Trains from Antony leave every 10 to 15 minutes. Travel time is about 30 to 45 minutes.
Airlines
AOM-Minerve Air Atlantique Air Charter Air Europa Air France Air Inter Air Liberte Air Littoral Air Malta Air Normandie Airlinair American Airlines Cargo Arkia Aviaco Biman Bangladesh British Airways Corsair Cubana Deutsche Lufthansa Egyptair El Al Fast Air Gandalf Airlines Iberia Icelandair Cargo Iran Air KLM Lauda Air MEA Olympic Regional Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian Royal Nepal SkyEurope Airlines SNCargo Syrian Arab Tampa TAP-Air Portugal TAT European THY-Turkish Tunisair VIVA Air Volareweb.com Yemenia
Beauvais
Website: www.aeroportbeauvais.com
Contact numbers
Customer service: service.clients@cci-oise.fr
Flight timetable: +33 (0) 892 682 066
Baggage: +33 (0)3 44 11 46 00
Police: +33 (0)3 44 45 25 79
Customs: +33 (0)3 44 45 08 92
Getting to and from the airport
Taxi Taxis from the airport to the train station in Beauvais charge 10? during the day and 13? at night and takes about 15 minutes to reach the station. Taxis also commute to Paris and charges range from 100 to 120? during the day and 140 to 160? at night. Journey time to Paris takes from one to one and half hours depending on the destination and traffic.
Bus A shuttle bus service (tel: +33 (0)158 050 845) is available to and from Paris-Beauvais Airport and Paris-Porte Maillot. Buses depart from Beauvais airport 20 minutes after the arrival of each flight and from Paris-Porte Maillot buses leave 3 hours before the departure of each flight. Tickets cost 13? per adult and travel time is about 60 minutes - the easiest way to buy tickets is online, otherwise tickets are sold at Beauvais airport and Bd Pershing (near Porte Maillot). Buses leave every 15 minutes. There is now a new shuttlebus service from the airport to Beauvais. This is currently 4? per adult, although this is a promotional price at this time.
Rail There is no direct train to and from Beauvais airport, although the local station is not far (see the taxi information above). From Beauvais station the SNCF trains take about 60 minutes to reach central Paris, and cost about 12?.
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Writer has sinced written about articles on various topics from French Vacation. Nicholas manages Trips Europe which is an, providing a comfortable and luxurious alternative to hotels.. Writer's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.
Nikwriter has sinced written about articles on various topics from French Vacation, Hotels and Hostels. Nicholas manages Trips Europe which is an , providing a comfortable and luxurious alternative to hotels.. Nikwriter's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.