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Let’s hop on the metro again and return to the city centre. I am now on the other side of the River Seine, and I'll explore this area a bit more and end this page with my descriptions of Ile de la Cité.
I'll start my tour at the Latin Quarter, which is a 100% contrasts to my previous destination La Défense. No modern buildings here, business men or modern architecture. But instead small windy streets, lots and lots of tourists, historical buildings and a thousand or more little (tourist) restaurants and bistros to choose from. Since The Latin Quarter has been dominated by the University of Paris, La Sorbonne, it has acquired its name from the early Latin-speaking students.
Some of the highlights of this area are the Institut du Monde Arabe, Musée du Moyen Age (Middle Ages) or also called the Musée de Cluny, the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in the Jardin des Plantes or how about the Le Panthéon and the churches of St-Séverin and St.Julien-le-Pauvre. My personal favourites of the Latin Quarter were my visits to the Musée de Cluny and lunch at a fantastic little winebar on the edge of the district called L'Ecluse (see my restaurant tips). Leave a Comment Directions: In the 5th arrondissement on the left bank (south side) of the Seine around the Sorbonne University
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 rue de la Huchette at
Night by CoAir13Leave a Comment
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In the centre of the Quartier Latin, just west of the tourist heart at the rue de la Huchette, and close to the River Seine, you can see the Place St-Michel. This is a small triangular square, with a large fountain that undoubtedly will draw your attention. The fountain was created by the French sculptor Davioud in 1860. The bronze sculpture in the middle is made by Duret, who was inspired by a Raphaël painting in the Louvre which depicts Saint Michel, protector of France, slaying a dragon (photo 2). On either side of the fountain you can see two large water spitting lion-like creatures (photo 1). Leave a Comment Address: Place St-MichelDirections: In the 5th arrondissement Latin Quarter Metro stop: St-Michel
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 by TheWanderingCamel
Oh well, that's no reason to give this corner of Paris a miss. The students certainly are still there, many of the brasseries do offer good value and there are bookshops aplenty still even if genuine intellectuals are thin on the ground.
There are any number of top sight-seeing options around here - the Hotel Cluny ( my No 1 choice for the glorious Lady and the Unicorn tapestries housed here) , the Sorbonne Chapel (open only for special events - I caught a fabulous Giotto exhibition here last time I was in Paris), the Arab Institute with its excellent museum, and equally good Lebanese restaurant (le Ziryab - very pricey and bookings are essential but the view is spectacular), the Pantheon and the Church of Saint Edmond du Mont ( and a great little pub down the hill fromthere where a jazz band sets up on Saturday afternoons)
Whether you opt for a full-on culture combo of museums, churches and historic buildings or simply to wander, soaking up the atmosphere of the narrow streets, the Latin Quarter is one corner of Paris not to be missed.
leyle Leave a Comment
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The Place de la Contrescarpe is a square where the students from the Universite de Paris have hung out, eaten & drunk for centuries! There are plenty of bars & restaurants to choose from in this area; one that I ate at is just off the square called La Couscoussiere, a Morrocan joint which serves wonderful & cheap couscous.
Nearby is the rue Mouffetard, a great market street in the Latin which has a great wine store (I saw great wine for as low as 2€), some crepes stands and a food market during the day. Just off rue Mouffetard are cobblestoned passages such as vine-laden Passage des Postes, Passage des Patriarches and Square Vermenouze.
In the middle of the square is a wonderful old burbling fountain that people enjoy day or night, picnic or no, cold or hot - even in winter it was filled with people!
Photos: Feb 2006 & Nov 2007 Leave a Comment
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The name Latin Quarter came from the fact that most of the famous schools and old universities located in the area were using for teaching, until the French Revolution, the Latin language.
Latin Quarter is a popular meeting place for young people and its main attractions are the Pantheon, St-Etienne-du-Mont church, St-Severin church and La Sorbonne.
In the summer time, the Latin Quarter is a beautiful lively place, due to the numerous cafes, bistros and restaurants around.
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 Our very first meal in Paris,
in Le Quartier Latin by Jefie, 3 more photos
It's also fun to go there at night when the streets are packed with visitors and students. Just be prepared: as you walk by the restaurants, someone will be there to do his or her very best to make sure you pick their restaurant, handing out menus and even free drinks! So not exactly a great place for a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris, but still a lot of fun :o) Leave a Comment Directions: Quartier Latin
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If you keep going and exit east out of Jardin du Luxembourg, you hit Blvd St Michel.
Up NE you eventually come to a great hangout spot, Place St. Michel fountain.
Usually always crowded with people (mostly young but all ages), enjoy the scene while George slays the dragon. During WWII occupation this was a place of many conflicts between occupying Nazis and the French resistance.
as a spiritual 'Soixante-huitard'
(if you thrive on cultural sterotypes... :P)
this place holds a special relevance for me.
There were lots of cafes here for some good people-watching, and overall Place St Michel is just an excellent area to walk, hang & chill.
At night you can watch fire-eaters, or sit down at a cafe table
and if you're lucky enough, have a french "lady" you have never seen before
(with her right hand) cadge / con you for drinks, smoke your cigarettes;
and (with her left hand) honk you under the table. Leave a Comment Address: 1 place St-Michel in the Latin QuarterDirections: Metro St. Michel, or better still, take the walk starting in Montparnasse up through Jardin du Luxembourg, then exit the park on the east side and walk up Blvd St Michel past this fountain to the Seine. You won't regret it.
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 St Michel Fountain in the
Latin Quarter-Paris by GroverdeanLeave a Comment
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Named for St Julian the Poor, this church claims to be the oldest church in Paris. Indeed, this gothic structure really does have a very old feel to it and is one of the earliest examples of gothic architecture. Not grand like its neighbor across the river, Notre Dame, or St-Germain-des-Pres in the next arrondissement, this small humble church was an important stop for pilgrims making the trek from Campostela to St-Denis.
There's an old acacia robinia tree in the Square Rene Viviani that claims to be the oldest tree in Paris although there's another tree in the Jardin du Luxembourg that holds the same claim. However, when I asked one of the many people who were lunching in the garden if it was the oldest, he emphatically replied that it was.
Besides being a house of worship, St-Julien-le-Pauvre is also a great place for evening concerts. You can see a flyer for a Chopin concert among my photos.
Photos: Feb 2006 Leave a Comment Address: 1 rue St-Julien-le-PauvreDirections: Located in the 5th arrondissement in the tangle of streets in the Latin Quarter. Just down the street from Shakespeare & Co.Website: http://www.paris5eme.com/sjpag.htm
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