Clustered with trendy cafes, innovative museums and independent boutiques, the 3rd arrondissement is a lively enclave in Paris. Also known as Temple, it is one of the French capital’s smallest areas and encompasses part of atmospheric Le Marais, which is renowned for its medieval architecture.
Things to do in 3rd arrondissement
If you’re interested in industrial design, don’t miss a visit to the Musee des Arts et Metiers, which boasts an impressive collection of scientific instruments and inventions. It occupies the medieval Priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, with a highlight exhibit being an original version of the Foucault pendulum. Also not to miss is Blaise Pascal’s Pascaline (a mechanical calculator invented in 1642) and a model of the Statue of Liberty by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.
One of Temple’s most popular cultural attractions is the Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature, which explores the relationship between humans and the natural world over the centuries. It is housed within the 17th-century Hôtel de Guenegaud and combines both ancient and contemporary objects in its eclectic galleries. In addition to taxidermied animals and 16th-century hunting equipment, it showcases paintings by Peter Paul Rubens and Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Paris’s 3rd arrondissement is home to the oldest covered market in the city, the Marché des Enfants Rouge, which first opened its stalls in 1615. It is named after a nearby orphanage (where the children were clothed in red) and is particularly enticing due to its global food stalls. Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and artisan baked goods are also for sale.
Getting around 3rd arrondissement
The 3rd arrondissement is around 35 minutes’ drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and is served by trains to the Republique, Temple and Arts et Metiers metro stations. Buses also travel throughout the 3rd arrondissement and connect most of its attractions.