The smells of coffee wafting from the café terrace, the excited chatter of students rushing by, the taste of a take-away shawarma, and the feel of the sun on your face as you lounge in one of the neighborhood’s many parks – the Latin Quarter is a feast for the sense. The entire area simply buzzes with life. The heart of the “Left Bank”, this part of Paris has been playing host to foreigners for some 800 years. The neighborhood’s name comes from the influx of foreigners who came to study at the medieval university and who spoke mostly in Latin – the language of scholars, which was the only common tongue those from different countries could typically speak. Today, the streets of the 5th Arrondissement retain the intellectual, youthful vibe you’d expect of a university community. You’ll find some of the city’s most important historic and architectural sites side-by-side with bookstores, happy-hour deals, and underground clubs spewing jazz. It’s would not be difficult to spend days in Paris without ever leaving the Latin Quarter. Here’s a rundown of just of the 10 places you can visit:
The Sorbonne
One of Europe’s oldest universities, the Sorbonne is the center of the Latin Quarter. The original college opened in 1257. Tours of the university must be arranged in advance, but even if you don’t go inside, the area around the Place de la Sorbonne is an Instagram-worthy mix of outdoor cafés surrounding a fountain, all resting in the shadow of the school’s domed central building. The Sorbonne was the center of violent political protests in 1968, in which students and police clashed in street battles and constructed barricades across streets, reminiscent of the student uprisings in Les Miserable. The unrest even led to then-president Charles de Gaulle briefly fleeing the country. After peace was restored, many of the school’s disciplines where transferred to buildings spread throughout Paris in an attempt to diffuse students and reduce the risk of future activism. Nonetheless, the area around the Sorbonne remains full of students filling bars and cafes, enjoying life in between exams.
Shakespeare & Company
A natural fit with the literary and scholarly history of area, the city’s most famous English-language bookstore sits along the Seine River, just across from the Notre Dame Cathedral. The original shop (which was located in Saint Germaine) was run by American Sylvia Beach, who provided lodging and employment to struggling writers – including Earnest Hemmingway, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce – trying to make their way in pre-WWII Paris. Beach closed the store during the German Occupation of Paris and never reopened it. Another American, George Whitman, opened a new store in its current riverside location in 1951. He continued the legacy of supporting writers, offering them spaces to sleep among the bookshelves after the shop closed each night, provided they committed to reading a book a day while continuing to hone their craft. Some estimate more than 30,000 writers have taken advantage of the store’s hospitality. A personal account of one such scribe is recounted in the book, Time Was Soft There, and gives insight into the eclectic, bohemian lifestyle of the store’s inhabitants.
Panthéon
In this notoriously secular country, it’s no wonder that one of the capital’s most stunning churches is not a church at all, but a mausoleum to some of France’s greatest citizens. In this impressive building you’ll find the tombs for Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas, and Voltaire, among others. It also houses a giant pendulum installed to show the earth’s rotation. And if you’re not afraid of heights, climb to the top of the dome for some of the most impressive views in Paris. Entrance is €9.
Luxembourg Gardens
This large public park is the fresh-air escape from the urban life of Paris. Whether you enjoy a picnic of champagne and cheese on the lawn, admire the dramatic Renaissance-style sculptures, or simply stroll and enjoy the peace of nature, a visit can be a relaxing respite from a day of touring the city. The gardens also house the Luxembourg Palace, home to the French Senate.
Cluny Museum
La Musée national du Moyen Âge (the National Museum of the Middle Ages) may be one of the most unsung museums in Paris. Also known as the Cluny Museum, because it’s housed in the old Cluny Abbey, the facility is just now reopening following a 2018 renovation. The museum houses world-famous art from the middle ages, including a collection of unicorn tapestries (replicas of which decorated Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies series). Ancient stained glass, an ethereally carved chapel, and medieval iconography also share space with artifacts from Paris’ Roman age. The Cluny Abbey was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman bath, which has been excavated in the museum’s lower floors and is open to the public. Architecture lovers will simply enjoy time wandering the fascinating building, while gardeners will enjoy the medieval herbal garden on the grounds next to the Abbey.
Roman Arena
The Arènes de Lutèce, is one of the last remaining vestiges of Paris’ history as a Roman outpost, then known as Lutetia. These arena ruins are largely a reconstruction and lie amid a quiet section of the eastern Latin Quarter. At its height, the ancient arena was capable of holding 17,000 spectators who would gather to watch gladiatorial combats, animal fights, and aquatic contests. Now, two millennia later, it mostly plays host to informal soccer matches between neighborhood youth. If you’re looking for a spectacular historical site where you may be one of only a handful of people, even in high season, this is for you.
Place Saint-Michel
The Rue Saint-Michel is the traditional boundary between the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germaine de Près neighborhoods. Where the road meets the Seine River is the area known as Place Saint-Michel. It’s a lively area of restaurants and cafés across from Notre Dame. The busy square is dominated by the fountain dedicated to Saint Michael and is a great place to people watch. It’s also a major transportation hub with a metro and RER line (from where you can catch the train to Versailles).
Quai de Seine
One of the most iconic and romantic Parisian strolls is the promenade along the Latin Quarter’s quay, where houseboats, floating restaurants, and booksellers line the Seine riverside. In the summer, it’s not unusual to stumble upon an evening dance party down along the banks. But no matter when you visit, walking along the Seine and taking in the views of the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris is a must for any visit to Paris.
Place Maubert
Nothing is more Parisian than hopping from the cheesemonger, to the wine shop, to the bakery, to the vegetable grocer picking up the components for that night’s dinner. Even if you’re staying in a hotel, it’s still a treat to shop like a local. There’s been a farmer’s market at the Place Maubert for over 500 years. Today, while the shops that line the square are open daily, the farmer’s market—where you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, hand-made soaps, and local honey – sets up shop on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It’s a wonderful place to stroll and pick up a snack. The market is located at the intersection of Rue Monge and Boulevard Saint-Germaine, close to the Maubert-Mutualité metro stop.
Grande Mosquée de Paris
Rather unassuming from the outside, the gardens of Paris’ Grand Mosque are a true secret garden waiting behind the complex’s stark white walls. The gardens are open to the public every day except Friday (€3 entrance fee) and you’re free to explore the manicure Moorish-style gardens amid colorfully tiled fountains. Just keep in mind that this is a functioning religious facility, so respectful peace and quiet are the goal. If you’re hunger, there’s also a tea room for mint tea and sweet treats and a restaurant that serves Moroccan tagines.