Visiting the Latin Quarter is like visiting a small world in its own right inside Paris, each corner has unique characteristics not to be missed. This is why it is highly recommended to walk, as moving with vehicles risks missing sections that no tourist would want to skip. Located on the left bank of the Seine, this is a student neighbourhood, and today this neighbourhood, rich in museums, squares, libraries and universities, represents one of the most beautiful "cultural" areas of the city.
How to get to the Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter, located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris on the left bank of the Seine, has several metro and RER stops along its perimeter. The marvellous thing about this district is to walk inside it, where there arent's metro lines, but the stops of the buses are different although on board a bus you risk missing unique portions of the district. If you want to start the tour at the height of the Seine, you can use the stop Saint Michel-Notre Dame served by line 4 (pink) and the RER C and B. If, however, you want to get directly to the Sorbonne, choose line 10 (yellow) and get off at the Cluny stop. To start the tour from the Phanhéon, choose the RER B and get off at the Luxembourg stop, a few steps away from the famous Luxembourg Gardens, or the Cardinal Lemoine stop, on metro line 10 (yellow).
Neighborhood Highlights
In this very peculiar district of Paris, everything becomes a a must-visit. Think that even the metro station Cluny-La Sorbonne is considered a work of art with its ceiling decorated with mosaics by Bazaine. But obviously, also in the Latin Quarter, there are must-see places and even if you don't have much time, it would be a pity to miss them: the Medieval National Museum, and the annexed Thermal Baths of Cluny, the Chapels of the Sorbonne, the Panthéon and the church of Saint Étienne du Mont, the Luxembourg Gardens and the garden of plants.
Interesting places and peculiarities
To visit the entire neighborhood and see the main works it takes at least three hours, obviously excluding the time you choose to spend inside the churches and museums. Choosing to start the tour on the Seine bank, therefore, walking along Avenue de la Tournelle, you will enjoy one of the best views of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and continuing on the left you will find the Place René Viviani, a small green corner embellished by the presence of the oldest tree in Paris (planted in 1620 or according to some in 1601). Not far from Rue de la Bûcherie, it is worth stopping to browse the fascinating bookstore of Shakespeare & Company. This historic bookshop is housed in an old medieval house and can be visited every day from 10:00 to 23:00, with the only exception of Sunday which will open at 11:00. In addition to the unique reading room, which is designed precisely as a house where readers can browse and read books, the bookstore sells and buys books and hosts musical evenings. Another magical place in the neighbourhood is undoubtedly the Place Saint Michel, where children of all nationalities meet at night and during the evening you can attend improvised dancing and singing. In addition, this square is also ideal for stopping to rest and savour an exquisite crȇpe, in one of the many crȇperie in the square.
