Cloître des Billettes, A Secret Photo Spot in Paris’s Marais

A local’s guide to visiting the secret Cloître des Billettes in Le Marais, Paris – a wonderful medieval site with Gothic arches and ever-changing exhibitions!

How many times before have I shared with you hidden gems and gorgeous places to visit in Paris in the fall, spring, or even summer?

Lately, I’ve re-visited some spots I fell in love with last year, like the colorful Stravinsky Fountain and the fake windows you can find close to Châtelet.

The French capital is filled with secret places, and the Cloître des Billettes, in Le Marais area, is one of my favorite places to walk around.

While it’s pretty small, the cloister is a must-visit if you’re visiting Paris on a budget and are only looking for free activities in the center of the city.

It’s filled with history, regularly used as an exhibition space, and makes for an even more stunning sight when you’re unexpectedly coming across its Gothic arches.

Cloître des Billettes, A Secret Photo Spot in Paris’s Marais

The Cloître des Billettes is located right beside the Église des Billettes, a medieval church at 24 rue des Archives in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

We’re right in the heart of the beautiful Marais neighborhood, which is split between avant-garde, couture and independent shops, and historical sites like the cloister we’re seeing together today.

What makes the Cloître des Billettes overly interesting, aside from its beauty and perfect angles for pictures, is that it’s the only medieval cloister still standing in Paris.

Walking around Le Marais area, you’ll find plenty of medieval sites, though, from old, beautiful streets to the medieval houses closer to Rue de Rivoli and St Paul station.

The Cloître des Billettes itself was originally built in 1427 for the Brothers of Charity, les Billettes, alongside a chapel that dates back to 1294.

Read: 9 Secret Colorful Alleys in Paris To Visit for Photos

This secret cloister is quite small, but that’s where you’re bound to find free, temporary exhibitions at all times of the year.

When I visited a few months ago, I saw a stunning painting exhibition, and a few months before that, I was stunned to find incredible sustainability-themed sculptures.

A few days ago, though, I was able to admire antique kilims and vintage carpets (exhibition open until December 31st).

While the church building you can see today dates from 1754-58, constructed in a Neoclassical/Rocaille-inspired style), the cloister very much offers a Gothic architecture – not unlike that I’m used to, what with being born and raised in Troyes, France.

Read: 11 Most Beautiful Neighborhoods in Paris to Walk Around

Cloître des Billettes, Le Marais, Paris Photo Gallery

Cloître des Billettes, A Secret Photo Spot in Paris’s Marais

The Cloître des Billettes is, in my book, one of the most beautiful places in Paris – one you’re sure to learn something new in, and one that takes you back in time as soon as you pass the door.

I can’t stress enough just how many hidden gems Paris is made of; Le Marais itself is a playground for art, history and architecture lovers.

You could start with breakfast at Les Marronniers nearby or, my new favorite cafe for a filling breakfast, Le Ju’ just next door.

When you’re done visiting the Cloître des Billettes, do explore the narrow streets of Le Marais; Rue des Rosiers, for instance, is one of my favorites and offers not one, but two secret gardens, and many independent shops.

Then, why not discover one of the free museums located nearby, like the Musée des Archives Nationales inside Hôtel de Soubise, or the wonderful Musée Carnavalet with its small Versailles-like garden?

Or, you could change the tone and make your way to the stunning Montmartre area with its views over Paris and dreamy winding streets!