1979 Gatier Pictorial Map of the Marais District, Paris, France

This is a 1979 Félix Gatier pictorial map of the Marais District (Le Marais), Paris, France. The map depicts from the Rue Beaubourg and the Centre Pompidou to the Place des Vosges, and from the intersection of the Boulevard du Temple and the Rue Charlot to the Seine River. Buildings are illustrated in profile and labeled, including banks, churches, and private homes. Other specifically identified places include the Centre Pompidou, the Place des Vosges, the Mémorial du Martyr Juif Inconnu (today's Mémorial de la Shoah), the Musée Carnavalet, the Archives Nationales, and the Église Saint-Gervais.

Le Marais

Le Marais, which translates to 'the marsh', is a historic district near the center of Paris on the Right Bank. In the 13th century, the Order of the Temple built a fortified church in the area - then just outside the city walls. As the district became fashionable, other religious institutions, including convents, were established. The brother of King Louis IX built his official residence here in the mid-13th century, and King Charles V built a mansion in 1361. Henri IV built the Place Royale (Place des Vosges) in 1605 and the nobility followed. This led to the construction of the Marais' famous urban mansions (hôtel particuliers, many of which are labeled here). After the French Revolution, the Marais fell into disrepair.

Over time, Le Marais evolved into a popular commercial district. It also attracted a large Jewish community, which was decimated by the Nazis during World War II. The Marais became a focus of restoration and rehabilitation in the 1960s, and the renovated hôtel particuliers became host to museums, including the Picasso Museum, the Musée Carnavalet, and the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme. Today, the Marais has once again turned fashionable, with art galleries, trendy restaurants, and fashion houses.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Félix Gatier and published by ARTGA in 1979. At least two editions of this map were published, both of which are dated 1964. The first edition lacks the illustration of the Centre Pompidou, while the present example includes a depiction of this world-famous museum. We note a single cataloged example of the present edition, at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.