Saint Germain & The Latin Quarter in 24 Hours
Paris is made up of 20 departments or arrondissements and each one has its own unique style and vibe and they are divided into two major groups separated by the River Seine, the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and the Right Bank (Rive Droite).
Deciding where to spend your time in Paris can be a difficult choice at any time and especially if you only have 24 hours to spend in the City of Light. One arrondissement that never fails to delight me is the Latin Quarter, and I'm not the only who loves this charming area. Helen Andreou of London Meets Paris Blog, writes how she loves "to wander off the predictable tourist traps because Paris is yours for the taking, it’ll mesmerise and seduce you until it has you firmly in its grip squeezing you tighter and tighter with each visit".
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The Romance of the Magical Latin Quarter
Helen also feels that "each time she arrives in Paris, it's like that romance begins all over again, tantalising memories come flooding back and I tingle all over to be in the city that I adore so much and so yes, it really is the most romantic city in the world and where better to embrace this romance than the magical Latin Quarter."
Helen shares her knowledge of the "Latin Quarter/St Germain (5 & 6)" and I know whatever you choose to do from Helen's suggested list of things during your short stay in Paris, you'll absolutely love the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain. Thanks Helen for your great article - see more of Helen's travels on Instagram @londonmeetsparis
What To Do in Saint Germain and The Latin Quarter
The Saint-Germain and Latin Quarter neighbourhoods are in the Left Bank, an area with so much to see and do and one that oozes charm and romance. Here are some of my favourite things to do.
Paris has many bookshops waiting to be discovered and Shakespeare and Company is right near Notre Dame Cathedral (one of Paris’ top ten things to see, but unfortunately not open to the public at the moment due to the fire in April 2019). Less than a three minute walk from Shakespeare & Company is Rue Galande, it's literally around the corner and is a must.
It's a bustling street full of life with fabulous little shops and restaurants and a well known pastry shop called Odette who makes the best choux buns this side of Paris. They're crispy and light like little puffs of clouds. Also, on rue Galande at number 63 is a new bakery taking the Latin Quarter by storm called Circus Bakery and they also have a branch in the Marais called Fragments. Come here for artisan bread and cinnamon buns to die for.
Medieval Streets, Passages and The Oldest Bistro
Not far from Odette is a maze of narrow medieval streets starting with rue de la Harpe, which dates back to Roman Times, and leads to rue Saint Severin. This is the Latin Quarter at its best full of vibrancy and life, great shops, cafés, authentic restaurants especially Greek and Italian and shops selling little trinkets and souvenirs. Rue Saint Severin comes to an end at Boulevard Saint Germain and I suggest a meander around this area, off Boulevard Saint Germain where it meets with rue Saint Andre des Arts.
You’ll be rewarded with the most enchanting passage, Cour de Commerce Saint Andre, a narrow cobblestoned alleyway full of charming shops and bistros, and one of the oldest bistros in Paris, Le Procope . Le Procope is great for the classics such as duck confit, snails, foie gras, French onion soup and tarte tatin.
Cafés, Patisseries and Churches
How can you go to Boulevard Saint Germain and not visit the iconic cafés, Café de Flore and Le Deux Magots? Take a seat and enjoy people watching - a favourite Parisian pastime, and then directly across from the café enter the Abbey of Saint Germain des Pres. Crossing over from here then onto Rue Bonaparte you’ll find Pierre Hermès, one of Paris’ best loved patisseries for macaron’s. A macaron is an essential dessert to try while in Paris and something delicious to take home.
Just near Pierre Hermès is an oasis of calm, the beautiful square Place Furstemberg. Located nearby is the Church of Saint Sulpice which is situated on the pretty square Place Saint Sulpice. I think it’s better to visit somewhere less touristy without queues when time is precious and without a queue, Church of Saint Sulpice is a good option.
Covered Market and The Pantheon
Other prominent streets in this area worth a visit are rue de Buci, rue de Seine and around the corner on Rue Lobineau, you’ll find a covered market, Marche Saint Germain which is open six days a week full of grocers, fishmongers, charcuterie, cheese, Italian and Greek deli’s. There are many other famous streets in Paris dedicated to the foodie and in the 5th arrondissement Rue Mouffetard is your best bet.
Pantheon interior facing the western nave
At the end of rue Mouffetard less than a 10 minute walk is the Pantheon, modelled on the Pantheon in Rome – “A temple to all gods”. It was originally built as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, and it’s somewhere I recommend you try and squeeze into your itinerary to visit. Beneath this imposing building is the burial place of notable Parisians such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie.
Film Locations and Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis
Have you ever watched the Woody Allen film, Midnight In Paris? The main character played by Owen Wilson sits on church steps of an evening and it's the steps of Église Saint Étienne du Mont which is just behind the Pantheon. The church’s origins date back to 1222 with further building work completed in 1424. Its architectural style is that of the Renaissance period but also gothic in character, the church is listed as a historic monument and if you like the movie, take a few moments to sit on the church steps.
A few minutes from Saint Germain are the two islands of Paris, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis are connected by bridge Pont Saint Louis and both islands offer a bit of tranquillity away from Parisian traffic and tooting horns. To be absolutely correct Île Saint Louis is in the 4th arrondissement and falls in the Marias neighbourhood however, it's just a few minutes walk from the other island and the Left Bank so I would really recommend the short walk to visit.
Cafe St Regis on Île Saint-Louis, Paris
The grande dame of all glaces (icecreams) is Berthillon which serves take away ice cream and has a sit down Salon de Thé (tea house) where you can enjoy delicious sundaes, rich Parisian hot chocolate, patisseries and hot and cold drinks. Oh, and don't forget to visit Café St Regis on Île Saint Louis, perfect for cocktails, coffee, lunch or dinner. Just sit down and watch the world go by.
Museums and Gardens in the 5th Arrondissement
If museums and gardens are high on your list on a city break, then a couple of my favourites are the Musée Delacroix – National Museum of Eugene Delacroix, an art museum dedicated to the art of Eugene Delacroix and it's very near Place de Rue de Furstemberg. Kill two birds with one stone and visit the museum when you visit Place de Furstemberg (detailed above).
Near the Luxembourg Gardens is the Musée du Luxembourg, the first museum to be opened to the public in Paris in 1750. The Luxembourg Gardens is an oasis of calm, beautiful flowers and plants especially during the blossom season. It’s definitely somewhere to go for a break, perhaps enjoy a picnic with a macaron or cake as the iconic patisserie Angelina has a small branch inside the Luxembourg Museum. The Museum is less than 5 minutes walk from the gardens.
These are just some of my favourite things to do in the Saint Germain and Latin Quarter and perfectly do-able on a short trip to Paris, the beauty is just to wander off and discover YOUR Paris.
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