The Latin Quarter (5th arr.)
The Latin Quarter
is one of the oldest and most pleasant districts in Paris. It is renown for
its medieval sites and churches, its colorful market streets and its many traditional
restaurants and bohemian style cafes. Apt#2 and apt#6 are located steps away
from the Seine river, and Notre-Dame Cathedral on ile de la Cite. Apt#7 is right
by the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Garden.
A short walk from the apartments brings you to The Sorbonne University and Boulevard
Saint Germain. The Louvre Museum, the Marais area and the lively market street
of rue Mouffetard are also within walking distance.
Shopping lovers should not miss the Boulevard St Michel. This very lively boulevard will display before your eyes an exceptional set of all kinds of shops: from clothes to jewellery and books, hundreds of shops offer you their wares.
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Ile Saint-Louis The area is beautifully preserved and richly enhanced by splendid 17th-century aristocratic dwellings. And everywhere, those views! Many well-known names are chiseled into plaques labeling the fine mansions along the quays. Interesting gift shops and many smart restaurants line the islands streets. Don't miss Bertillon best ice cream and sorbet in Paris. No description required; find the long lines, take your place, and take a sweet taste of Island Life for yourself. |
Notre-Dame Cathedral on ile de la Cite The city's cathedral ranks as one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture. Notre Dame was begun in 1163 and completed around 1345. Before entering, place your feet on the worn bronze plate set in the paving in front of the cathedral; you are standing on Point Zéro, the spot from which all distances in France are measured. This is the center of the French world, past and present, where Paris was born twenty centuries ago. On this island, Julius Caesar conquered a small village, Lutèce, inhabited by an ancient tribe called the Parisii. Under the square in front of the cathedral, an archaeological crypt displays in situ the remains of structures from the Gallo-Roman and later periods.
Sainte
Chapelle
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Bookseller's
Stalls Along the Quai de Montebello, just opposite Notre Dame, are the Bookseller's Stalls. Here you can find all sorts of things: old prints and engravings, old issues of Paris Match, maps, books, comic books, and ``odds and ends.'' The stalls themselves are essentially boxes bolted to the stone wall of the quai. At night, the boxes are locked shut. |
Hard to believe, but the booksellers (les bouquinistes) do not appear each day just to delight tourists. The dark green bookstalls have been doing business along the riverbank since the 18th century when they were chased from their original location on the Pont Neuf. Treasures are still occasionally found among the secondhand books and prints. A bit of friendly bargaining is not unwelcome. |
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The Pantheon
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Luxembourg gardens
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Addresses Palais du Luxembourg
15, rue de Vaugirard. Restaurants
and cafes |