Things To Do In Latin Quarter Paris

Fspend Relaxing Hours At Jardin Des Plantes

Best places in Paris #5 Latin Quarter | My Private Paris

Situated in the heart of the Latin Quarter, Paris this 17th-century garden was once used to grow the medicinal herbs for royalties. But now it houses lush gardens, the zoo, and museums all at one location. This luxurious green space is a serene place to unwind and enjoy the captivating beauty of nature. The parks include 4,500 different plants in its mountain plants abundant alpine garden, romantic rose garden or enticing Art Deco winter garden. It is a perfect family destination to experience the calming yet thrilling excitements at several gardens, zoo or Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle museum.

Address: 57 Rue Cuvier 75005 Paris

Where To Go Out In The Latin Quarter Paris

You can find a ton of bars and restaurants just by walking around the Latin Quarter, but here are my favorite places to go ou in the 5th arrondissement to get you started:

Comptoir du Panthéon Get a glass of wine on this lovely terrace with a stunning view of the Panthéon!

Place de la Contrescarpe Place de la Contrescarpe is a lively square that youll love drinking wine in!

Those are my best tips for visiting the Latin Quarter of Paris! What are your favorite travel tips for the 5th?

In this article:

Your Evening At Paradis Latin

This is one of the oldest cabarets in Paris and one of the most famous. Here you can have a traditional dinner and taste the best French wines as well as champagne. You will also be able to admire fabulous dancers, a symbol of the Parisian nightlife which is all about pleasure and freedom. Both Kitsch and modern, you should go there and appreciate the show with your own eyes.

Recommended Reading: Things To Do In South Boston

The Latin Quarter: Paris History Of The Past And Today

Opposite the Sorbonne is the Hôtel de Cluny which houses the Museum of the Middle Ages with the famous tapestry The Lady with a Unicorn. Just a few meters away, on the museum site, are the Gallo-roman baths which date from the first to the third centuries, witnesses of the ancient past of the district. At the summit of Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, not far from the Jardin des Plantes, the Panthéon combines past and modernity. If it hosts for eternity the great names of the Republic, its forecourt has become the preferred meeting place for student youth, close to the Luxembourg Gardens. It is also in this garden that we can see students revise their lessons in the grass when the sunny days come back. At Place Saint-Michel, there is a monumental fountain that represents Saint Michel striking down the Devil.

D Walk Down Rue Mouffetard

The bustling heart of the Latin Quarter Paris, the Rue Mouffetard is a street full of restaurants, bars, cafes, historic shops, and ancient houses. This lively market is a popular nightlife destination and offers a unique and vibrant experience to its visitors. Not only nightlife, but the area also enthrall the visitors with its 16th to 18th-century buildings and façades and delectable cuisine serving restaurants. This street in Latin Quarter is remarkably stimulating on weekend evenings, and one can enjoy the performances of the street musicians while feasting on the local delicacies or savoring the drinks.

Location: Rue Mouffetard begins near the Panthéon and ends at the Place de la Contrescarpe.

You May Like: Things To Do In Houston For Your Anniversary

Paris: Panthon Admission Ticket And Self

A masterpiece created by Soufflot and a former church, the Panthéon became the burial place for famous French personalities from the time of the French Revolution. Spend an hour visiting this important monument on a skip-the-line self-guided tour.A major exhibition at the Panthéon pays tribute to Jacques-Germain Soufflot, one of the greatest French architects. It presents his career and his monumental achievements, the most famous being the royal Church of Sainte-Geneviève, the current Panthéon.With this temple, the architect achieved Louis XV’s desire to glorify the monarchy in the form of a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. The edifice was deconsecrated during the French Revolution in 1791 and renamed the Panthéon. During the turbulent years of the 19th century, as regimes changed, it alternated in function between a religious and a patriot…

The Pantheon is phenomenal. You do not need to buy an audioguide as all the information is all over the exhibits with french and English! It is quite stunning, the history is phenomenal, and the architecture is immense. The crypt is interesting with famous French people such as Dumas, Hugo, Zola, etc.

Introduction To The Paris Latin Quarter

Travelers who are dreaming of exploring hip Paris bookshops or lounging an afternoon away in a quaint street-side café are inevitably drawn to the citys Latin Quarter, a district that stretches back in time to some of the citys earliest days. Historically, the Latin Quarter is among the oldest of the citys neighborhoods. The neighborhood was known as Lutetia, early on, and was a Roman village before it was absorbed into the metropolis that would become Paris. Some of its sites date to the 1st century AD, and these illustrate its earliest moments as a settlement. The Latin Quarter is also home to Pariss second-oldest university, the Sorbonne, which was officially chartered in the year 1200.

Visitors flock to the Quartier Latin to visit the Sorbonne along with other medieval, gothic, and renaissance sites that color the districts rich history. Much like its past, of course, the neighborhood teems with students who attend the areas various universities and colleges. For visitors to Paris, the Latin Quarter has much to offer: a diverse range of hotels, upscale and budget-friendly restaurants, quirky shops, charming cafes, and much more. Discover the highlights of Pariss Latin Quarter so you can include them on your travel itinerary.

Also Check: Fun Things To Do In Ct For Families

Dine At The Romantic Le Coupe Chou

If youre looking for that romantic, old-world Paris, fancy kind of restaurant for a special date, look no further than this 17th-century townhouse on the Left Bank. This restaurant serves all the French classics snails, beef bourguignon, entrecôte steak and fries and the set menu is under 30 euros. 11 Rue de Lanneau, 75005 Paris

Hostels in Paris| Cheap flights to Paris

What are some of your romantic recommendations for a long weekend in Paris? Tell us in the comments below

About The Author

Katie McKnoulty is a nomadic freelance branding strategist and travel blogger. Originally from Australia, she roams the world for her travel blog, The Travelling Light, a blog for travellers, nomads and seekers, a collection of unique places, people and journal entries from her life as a digital nomad. You can follow her on , and . She travels to find the soul in places, she lives to find secret places and people creating amazing things.

Outdoor Options Include Gorgeous Gardens And Roman Ruins

4K Latin Quarter Paris pt.3 – things to do Paris video

The Jardin des Plantes, or Garden of the Plants, is a local botanical garden that serves as the main patch of green in the Latin Quarter. The garden spans more than 6 acres and has been part of the city landscape for 400 years.

The Jardin des Plantes also includes a zoo with paid entry, but if youre lucky you can still spot the animals outside the zoo section in the free public area.

All in all, its a good spot to jog or set up a blanket. But I personally like to walk around and see if I can spot some of the cute red pandas.

A short walk from the Jardin des Plantes is the Arènes de Lutèce. The ancient arena is a remnant of the Gallo-Roman period, dating back to the first century. In those days, they could hold some 15,000 spectators. Today, youre much more likely to see locals playing a game of pétanque.

If youre ready for more gardens, head to the Luxembourg Gardens. While technically just outside the Latin Quarter, its a great place for a picnic, a truly Parisian pleasure.

Ive already had a few picnics here, admiring the gardens perfect pairing of plants and sculptures while savoring a baguette and cheese. Another highlight for me is the rose garden. Make sure to plan your visit in spring when theyre in bloom.

Like before, just hop off at the RER Luxembourg station to get there.

Read Also: Things To Do In Boston July 4th Weekend

A Feast Of Museums And Churches

Lest you thought this was all drink, eat and play, Quartier Latin doesnt disappoint the culture buff in you either. The embarrassment of cultural treasures and historical riches within such few square miles could alone keep you occupied for days.

Start with the Musée Cluny this National Museum of the Middle Ages, built on the excavation site of an ancient Roman bath complex, has an arresting collection of medieval tapestries and Roman and Gallic sculptures from the first century AD.

Next up, the quaint Eglise Saint-Sevérin Saint-Nicolas, tucked away in an impossibly tiny lane, possesses an immersive aura that flows across its Flamboyant Gothic architecture, its dark sanctuary flooded with candles, and stained-glass windows from the 14th century.

Another beautiful ode to spiritual devotion is the Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, where a Late Gothic architectural aesthetic merges gently into a Renaissance flourish.

Finally, on the edge of the painfully hip Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, lies my pick of the bunch.

Musée National Eugène Delacroix is a small but exquisite homage to the life and works of French Romanticist Eugène Delacroix, including his eternal classic Magdalene in the Desert.

Cheese Addicts: Laurent Dubois

The best cheese shop in Paris? Laurent Dubois. If you dont taste Duboiss cheeses before you leave Paris, you are really missing something! It has excellent quality cheeses and an amazing selection. Our absolute favourite is the Brillat Savarin cheese with truffles and their camembert cheese with caramelised apple. Yum! Laurent Dubois is located at place Maubert, 47 ter Boulevard Saint-Germain.

Read Also: Things To Do In Northwest Kansas

See The Highlights Of The Louvre

Whether youre a long time art enthusiast or more of an art novice, a trip to the Louvre is an absolute must during your stay in Paris. The Louvre is, of course, the largest and most visited art museum in the world. The line for tickets is almost always long, so we recommend booking an Intimate Evening Tour which lets you enjoy a calmer moment of the Louvre, or grab your family and enjoy a Private Family Treasure Hunt – great fun for all ages covering centuries of amazing works of art from around the world. You can find more Fun Things To Do With The Family In Paris on our blog.

Browse At Shakespeare & Company Bookshop

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

You may have noticed that this entire district is something of a book lover’s dream: From the open-air booksellers with their famed green metal stalls on the Seine to the aforementioned French mega-bookstores on Place St-Michel, you’ll easily find a worthwhile tome.

There are few places more iconic in the Latin Quarter than this beloved bookshop situated across the Seine and facing Notre-Dame Cathedral. Opened in 1951 by consummate Parisian beatnik George Whitmanwho passed away in 2011it’s now owned by his business-savvy daughter, Sylvia.

Originally opened as “Le Mistral,” this is not the original S& Co shop in Paris: George Whitman renamed it in 1964, in honor of the legendary bookshop opened by Sylvia Beach in 1919 just down the street. Under Beach’s helm, the first shop was famous for hosting and publishing literary greats such as James Joyce. The more recent location is still a literary epicenter and a comforting refuge for English-speakers and readers.

Make sure to duck insideearly in the morning is best to avoid the crowdsand browse both new and classic titles gracing the shop’s narrow, uneven shelves and carefully curated tables.

For those visiting Paris for a longer spell, the shop also regularly hosts workshops and talks with great writers it also hosts aspiring writers and poets, charmingly referred to as “tumbleweeds,” by exchanging lodging upstairs for work in the shop.

This place is simply timeless and essential.

Also Check: Things To Do In Southington Ct This Weekend

Jardin Des Plantes & Muse National D’histoire Naturelle

The Jardin des Plantes is a legacy of the Royal Garden of medicinal plants kept by King Louis XIII in the 17th century. This luxuriant green space is a tranquil spot to relax and escape to nature, right in the heart of Paris.

Within the 26-hectare Jardin des Plantes are 11 distinct gardens, as well as several greenhouses. Highlights include the romantic Jardin de Roses the Jardin Alpin featuring mountain plants and the Jardin de l’École de Botanique , with an exceptional variety of flowers and plants arranged in an educational manner to help viewers understand biodiversity.

Inside the gardens is the Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, which offers a comprehensive view of the various fields of natural history including botany , mineralogy , geology, anthropology, and paleontology.

Families with young children love the Ménagerie, a zoo found within a several-hectare woodland space of the Jardin des Plantes.

The Jardin des Plantes is open to the public every day, free of charge, from 7:30am until 8pm. The Ménagerie requires an entrance fee tickets are available online.

Address: 57 Rue Cuvier 75005 Paris

Gstop By The Shakespeare & Company Bookshop

The Latin Quarter Paris is also known as the book lover’s dream destination for being the hub for several open-air booksellers on the Seine to the prestigious mega-bookstores on Place St-Michel. The riverside booksellers along the docks are most famous for being open-air bookshops and have in offer classic and modern literary works along with used or new books, postcards, and posters.

Shakespeare and Company English bookstore was opened in 1919 and is a general bookstore plus a boarding house for up-and-coming writers. It acts as a bohemian joint for writers and book lovers and sells editions of everything from Shakespeare to James Joyce. It also organizes literary events such as book readings, etc., and one can also enjoy the snacks and drinks to take a break from books at the cafe next door.

Timings: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday, 12:30 pm to 8 pm

Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005

Recommended Reading: Things To Do In Asbury Park This Weekend

Main Sights And Attractions

When visiting the Fifth Arrondissement, you’ll first want to stop in the Saint-Michel Neighborhood, which occupies most of this district to check out some of its local shops, historic venues, and numerous performance spaces. Roam down the Boulevard Saint Michel or Rue Saint Jacques where you can discover the Musée National du Moyen Age and Hotel de Cluny, The Panthéon, or the Place Saint-Michel.

While there, you can also visit one of Europe’s oldest universities, The Sorbonne, which was built in the 13th century as a religious school but later turned into a private institute. It also features the Chapelle Sainte-Ursule, which was an early instance of the domed roofs that became widely popular in other historic buildings across Paris.

Another great neighborhood, the Rue Mouffetard District, which is another of the oldest and most happening neighborhoods in the city. Here, you can check out the Institut du Monde Arabe, La Grande Mosquée de Paris , or the Roman-era colosseum, the Arènes de Lutece.

The Fifth Arrondissement also offers several of the oldest theaters in Paris, some of which have been converted into movie theaters while others still offer a host of plays and musical productions for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.

Explore The Beautiful 7th Arrondissement

Carpe Diem Paris Latin Quarter Tour

Of all the arrondissements in Paris, few boast as many attractions and points of interest as the 7th Arrondissement. Dont miss the beautiful Musée Rodin or Les Invalides, which is home to Napoleons tomb and the National Army Museum. Switching gears, head down to the lovely rue Cler market street and browse a series of mouthwatering shops offering the best in French gourmet ingredients. If youre feeling inspired, consider taking one of our exclusive Gourmet Cooking Classes held in the area or book onto a Private Museum Tour for you and your family.

Don’t Miss: Things To Do In Hyde Park Ny

Pay Your Respects At The Paris Pantheon

If you wander around the Latin Quarter for a while, youll notice the imposing blue dome that belongs to the Pantheon. Once a church, the Pantheon now pays tribute to the heroes of Paris. Its the burial place of Victor Hugo Voltaire scientists Pierre and Marie Curie Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who wrote The Little Prince and Louis Braille, who invented an alphabet for the blind.

Louis XV commissioned the Paris Pantheon to express his gratitude to God after he recovered from an illness. Architecture buffs will appreciate that the Pantheon, completed in 1791, uses Gothic principles of light but combines them with classical design. The building is known as the first neoclassical work of art.

The central, open room under the dome is where youll find the famous Foucault pendulum. A high ceiling was required for Foucaults experiment showing the Earths rotation. Watching this pendulum slowly swing back and forth is truly mesmerizing.

Sharon Odegaard

My Life In The Neighborhood

The first time I ever visited Paris, my family stayed on Rue Mouffetard. We knew nothing about the neighborhood or the city, but when we arrived on the small, steep street, it totally enchanted us.

When I moved back to the city years later, I was lucky enough to live 5 minutes away. Known as “the oldest street in Paris,” Rue Mouffetard is vibrant and friendly, lined with affordable shops selling bread, fish, clothing, cheese, Chinese food, ice cream, chocolate, books, souvenirs, and more. At night, it’s mostly a student crowd that gathers in the Contrescarpe and its bars. I love this street with my whole heart I think it’s one of the city’s best kept secrets.

I studied in Paris a few years ago and I fell in love with the city, becoming especially fascinated by the history of American expatriate writers and musicians there.

So, one of my favorite “Paris moments” is browsing for books at Shakespeare and Company, an English-language bookstore that holds an important place in American literary history. Founded by Sylvia Beach, the shop was frequently visited by American expatriate authors like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Djuna Barnes. The inside of store whisks you back in time, and from the upstairs window you can gaze out at Notre Dame and the Seine. You can also spend hours reading in the adjacent café, which serves smoothies and pressed juices in addition to espresso.

You May Like: Artsy Things To Do In Nyc

Leave a Comment