We had another beautiful and warm weekend, so we decided to get ice cream at Berthillon, on the Ile Saint Louis, probably the most famous of Parisian glaciers, who make the best ice cream in the world. Or at least in Paris.
Our trip started across the river, behind the Hotel de Ville, at the place Saint Gervais, a quiet square with the quaint Saint Gervais-Saint Protais church in the back
. Its facade has all three types of columns: Doric on the ground floor, Ionic on the second floor, Corinthian one the third floor. Or so I read.
We then walked down Rue François Miron, where on the corner of the tiny Rue Cloche Percé two of the oldest medieval houses of Paris survive, at #11 and #13. Both date back to the 16th century and with their exposed beams and studs after their renovation have regained their medieval appearance. Across the street is a toy store that seemed more interesting to some members of the family.
From there we turned right on Rue Geoffroy l'Asnier, where we passed the portal of the Hôtel Châlon-Luxembourg, which dates back to the 17th century and was donated to the City of Paris by its last owner but whose condition is not the best. Just across the street is the
Memorial de la Shoah, dedicated to Jewish history during the Second World War and the teaching of the Holocaust. We are in The Marais after all. Once we reached the Seine we crossed over to the Ile Saint Louis for our much deserved Berthillon ice cream, which we all love, and whose wonderful selection of flavors never disappoints us.
