Quiet Corners of the 4th: Cloisters and Craftsmen, a Self-Guided Paris Walk
1h30. 1.4 miles. From Cloitre des Billettes to Village Saint-Paul.
Between the Marais boutiques and the Seine, the 4th keeps its oldest secrets: the last medieval cloister in Paris, a mansion library with a garden, and a village of antique dealers hidden inside linked courtyards. All within ten minutes of Notre-Dame.
The local move
Use the garden of the Hotel de Sully as your shortcut between rue Saint-Antoine and place des Vosges. Locals cut through all day; most visitors never notice the little door in the corner of the square.
Best time to go
Weekday afternoons, when the cloister and the Forney library are open.
When to avoid it
Monday, when Village Saint-Paul is at its sleepiest and the library is shut.
The stops
Cloitre des Billettes
The only surviving medieval cloister in Paris, from 1427, now hosting small free art shows under its Gothic arcades.
Tip: Open daily about 10am to 7pm when an exhibition is on. Entrance at 24 rue des Archives, free.
Clos des Blancs-Manteaux
A small walled community garden in the middle of the Marais, tended by locals.
Tip: Usually open weekends only; if the gate is open, wander in, that is what it is for.
Bibliotheque Forney, Hotel de Sens
A fairy-tale medieval mansion housing an arts library, with a formal garden at its feet.
Tip: Library Tuesday to Saturday afternoons; the garden behind is free and rarely has more than three people in it.
Jardin de l'Hotel de Sully
The manicured garden of a great Marais mansion, quietly connecting rue Saint-Antoine to place des Vosges.
Tip: The passage door to place des Vosges hides in the far right corner of the orangerie. Daily to about 6pm.
Village Saint-Paul
Interlinked courtyards of antique dealers, ceramicists and curiosity shops between rue Saint-Paul and the Seine.
Tip: Best Thursday to Sunday when most shops open. Enter from rue Saint-Paul and drift courtyard to courtyard.
About these walks
This is one of the free self-guided Paris walks written by the Chic Trip team, locals who plan and book full Paris trips for American travelers. Get our free insider Paris guide at chic-trip.com/free-paris-guide, or have us plan your whole trip at chic-trip.com/paris-travel-planner.
