セーヌ川右岸のマレ地区は、パリの中でも筆者が最もお気に入りの場所です。フランスで最も歴史の古い広場や、さまざまな美術館があると思えば、流行に敏感なゲイや芸術家たちの集まる地区でもあり、街はさまざまな魅力をかもし出しています。
People, more or less, are partial to a particular place. For example, I like Tokyo better than any other city in Japan, and I prefer Ikebukuro to any other part of Tokyo. In Paris, I like the Marais district.
This is not just because I lived in the Marais during my first 15 months in Paris. Even if I
hadn't spent much time here, I am sure that this area would have fascinated me sooner or
later.
The Marais (the 3rd and 4th wards of Paris) is just across the Seine, to the north of the Ile
de la Cite and the Ile Saint Louis. It extends eastward up to the Bastille.
Marais literally means "marsh," which it was, a long time ago. It is said that culture began
to develop here when convents were constructed in the 13th century. The vicinity became part
of Paris when Charles V extended the city wall to the region.
In Marias, construction of the square known as the Place Royale, now called the Place des
Vosges, was started by Henry IV and completed in 1612. After completion, the Marais became a
very stylish area. The square acquired its present name in 1799, when the Department of the
Vosges
first paid taxes to the central government to support the military.
Place des Vosges is the oldest square in France. Its shape is symmetrical and is surrounded by
grand buildings. A stone arcade goes around the entire square. Many restaurants and art
galleries now stand here. Although the rent is high, there are private residences as well.
Jack Lang, the Minister of Education, is one of the area's famous inhabitants.
I always find this square very peaceful. On the benches, elderly women watch children play, young
couples chat and people quietly read books and newspapers. In summer, half-naked young men lie
down on the grass by the fountains. These are typical Vosges scenes.
Important museums are also located in this neighborhood. Maison Victor de Hugo, where the famous
writer of the same name once lived, is now a museum dedicated to his life and work.
If you are interested in the history of Paris, Musee Carnavel is where you should visit. It has
amazing collections that illustrate developments of the capital in successive periods.
For art lovers, Musee National Picasso is waiting to satisfy you. In this 17th-century building,
251 paintings, 160 sculptures and pottery all by Picasso are on display.
In recent years the Marais has been restored to become one of Paris' most eclectic areas. Many
of the structures and narrow streets are left unchanged and it has retained most of its
pre-Revolution architecture. I didn't know much about French history before coming to France,
however, by seeing these buildings I could get a better feel for French history.
Apart from being a historical district, it has two other distinguishing characteristics. One, it
is traditionally Jewish. Two, it is a predominantly gay area.
Jews have been living in this neighborhood since the 13th century. Jewish restaurants and
delicatessens line the main street. If you come here, I strongly recommend trying the falafel
(deep-fried bean paste) sandwich.
Due to the large Jewish population, you can easily get kosher food. Kosher food meets all the
requirements of the dietary laws that are specified in the five books of Moses and
rabbinical law. Not only are certain animals unacceptable to eat, but also these animals must
be slaughtered in accordance with specific rituals.
A few months ago, McDonald's abandoned a plan to open a new branch in this area. They didn't
have any other choice. Some locals strongly opposed the plan, because they believed that
McDonald's didn't fit the area's historical atmosphere. In the end, the fast-food chain pulled
out of the plan, citing that they wouldn't be able to prepare kosher meat for Jewish
customers.
Since the 1980s, gays have frequented this area as well. Trendy bars and shops were built one
after another. From the window of my former apartment, I could see one of the most popular gay
bars, where techno music was always played.
On Sundays, the street rue des Francs Bourgeois teems with people, mostly tourists. With its
hip boutiques you will never get bored walking on this street. Many of the boutiques are owned
by artists and you can see the original clothes and accessories that they have designed.
A cluster of antique dealers is situated in the southern St. Paul area. While new bars and
boutiques endlessly appear, antique shops are always one of the great attractions of the Marais.
To me, all of this is the perfect mixture of old and new, and that makes the Marais shine.
chu.htm
- Marais
- パリ繁華街のマレ地区
- eclectic
- いろいろなものが混ざった
- are partial to
- をひいきする
- would have fascinated
- を魅了しただろう
- the Seine
- セーヌ川
- Ile de la Cite
- シテ島(セーヌ川中州の地区)
- Ile Saint Louis
- サンルイ島(シテ島の隣の中州の地区)
- Bastille
- バスティーユ(パリ中心部の交差点。7月革命記念柱がある)
- literally
- 文字どおりには
- marsh
- 沼地
- convents
- 女子修道院
- vicinity
- 地域
- Charles V
- シャルル5世(1337-80)
- Place des Vosges
- ボージュ広場
- Henry IV
- アンリ4世(1553-1610)
- acquired
- 得た
- Department of the Vosges
- ボージュ省
- symmetrical
- 左右対称の
- grand
- 荘厳な
- rent
- 賃貸料
- private residences
- 住宅
- inhabitants
- 住人
- fountains
- 噴水
- Maison Victor de Hugo
- 文豪ビクトル・ユゴーの家
- dedicated to
- を専門に紹介する
- Musee Carnavel
- カルナバレ歴史博物館
- amazing
- 驚くような
- capital
- 首都
- in successive periods
- 時代ごとによって
- Musee National Picasso
- ピカソ美術館
- sculptures
- 彫刻
- pottery
- 陶器
- has been restored
- 修復された
- structures
- 建築物
- has retained
- 保存した
- pre-Revolution
- フランス革命(1789)以前の
- architecture
- 建築物
- distinguishing
- 特別な
- is traditionally Jewish
- 昔からユダヤ系住民が多い
- predominantly gay area
- ゲイの文化が主流をなす地域
- delicatessens
- 惣菜屋
- line
- 並ぶ
- deep-fried bean paste
- 豆のペーストを揚げたもの
- population
- 人口
- kosher food
- (ユダヤ教のおきてに従って料理された)清浄な食物
- requirements
- 決まり
- dietary laws
- 料理法
- are specified in
- に明記されている
- Moses
- モーセ(紀元前13世紀のイスラエル民族の指導者)
- rabbinical law
- ラビ(ユダヤの立法学者名)教義の法
- be slaughtered
- 殺される
- in accordance with
- に従って
- rituals
- 儀式
- abandoned
- 放棄した
- branch
- 支店
- locals
- 地元住民
- pulled out of
- から手を引いた
- citing
- と言って
- have frequented
- よく集まった
- rue
- 通り
- teems with
- であふれる
- hip
- 格好いい
- A cluster of
- の一群
- antique dealers
- 古美術商
- attractions
- 呼び物