Sorbonne Place

The Latin Quarter is located on the Left Bank, between the Seine and the Luxembourg Garden.  It’s an area known for its lively, narrow and winding streets, its students bookshops, publishing houses, its experimental cinemas, its cafés, and jazz clubs…  Paris'map

In this area, famous institutes of learning among them, the 2 most prestigious lycées (high schools) Henri IV and Louis Le Grand, the Ecole Normale Supérieure, the Sorbonne, the Collège de France, Ecole Normale Sup…… 

This neighborhood is a part of Medieval Paris (Middle Âges : from the XI century to the end of XV century). This area was dominated by the Sorbonne since the Middle Âges. The Paris University was created in 1215, the first in France; 4 subjects were taught : Theology, Arts, Medecine and Law. During the 16th century, there were 40 000 students and 65 colleges. Latin was the common language. 

It gets its name from the common language spoken by theology students who came from all over Europe beginning of the 13th century to study at local university such as the Sorbonne. Latin was spoken in the area until the French Revolution (end of 18th century)

 

Take a walk in the Latin Quarter : the best way to enjoy it !

But one of the best way to enjoy the Latin quarter is to stroll the little streets : rue de la Harpe, rue de la Huchette, rue Galande, rue Saint Julien le Pauvre, rue de la Bucherie, rue Frédéric Sauton… When you walk in the eastern part of the area, you’ll be surprised to see how quiet it is  !

Here are a few Latin Quarter locations and buildings :

Sorbonne Place

Place de la Sorbonne and La Chapelle de la SorbonneThe Chapel was built in the 17th. The place is lined with cafés and shops. It’s one of the favorite haunt for students of the nearby Universities and schools. 

Midnight in Paris  : a famous location of the movie is in the Latin Quarter

Owen Wilson sitting on the steps

Owen Wilson sitting on the steps

Eglise Saint Etienne-du-Mont :

Located on the left side of the Panthéon (just behind).  This church houses of shrine of Sainte Geneviève, patron of Paris and the remains of the great literary figures Racine and Pascal. Its rood screen is gorgeous and really worth a visit.The steps in front of its entrance are where Owen Wilson sat to go back in time in the movie (inMidnight in Paris – Woody Allen). 
(Saint-Etienne-du-Mont church (Latin Quarter) 5 place Sainte Genevieve – Paris 5)

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    Eglise Saint Etienne du Mont

The Panthéon : Conceived (mid 18th century) by Louis XV to honour Sainte Genevieve  (Paris’ patron). With the French Revolution, the church was turned in to a Panthéon. It’s a location for the tombs of France’s great men and women (Voltaire, Rousseau, Pierre and Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola…)

Panthéon

Panthéon

The College de France : one of Paris’s great institutes of research and learning, established by François 1er in 1630. You can easily enter its courtyard.  (College de France’s main entrance :  rue des Ecoles – Paris 5)

College de France courtyard

College de France courtyard

The Middle Âges museum  :
a late 15th century medieval mansion and one of the world’s finest collections of Medieval Art.  (7 rue de Cluny – Paris 5 – RER Cluny Sorbonne or Metro stop Luxembourg or Saint Michel)

Middle Âges Museum

Middle Âges Museum

 

Gallo-Roman Bath

The Gallo-Roman baths : built in AD 200. The baths lasted for about 100 years before being sacked by the Barbarians. Romans settled around the Montagne Saint Genevieve and built Lutecia. They built an acqueduc of 15 kilometers and a network of paved roads, a forum, Baths, theaters…    In the 3 century, Lutecia was a small town of 6000 inhabitants. The remain of the Gallo Roman baths can be visited. (7 rue de Cluny – Paris 5 – Same address than the Middle Âges museum)

Saint Severin church

Saint Severin church

Saint Severin church : a typical Gothic style church. Begun in the 13th century. It took 3 century to build

 

 

 Saint Julien le Pauvre church

Saint Julien le Pauvre church

Saint Julien le Pauvre church and the Paris’ oldest tree : Saint Julien le Pauvre is one of the oldest church in Paris (12 century and rebuilt join the 17th century). An a setting for a lot of music concerts. In the park beside the church : the oldest Paris ‘ tree planted in 1601)

St-Michael Fountain

St-Michael Fountain

The Place Saint Michel : the popular meeting point for students, but not only students, and its fountain (Michaël killing the dragon)              

Some more photos

To experience Paris as a local :  take a walk in the Latin Quarter with Ann Jeanne in Paris

My advice :

  • In my opinion, the best way to enjoy the Latin Quarter is to take your time and stroll the area, go in a café (or several !) to rest and people watch. I suggest the cafés Place de la Sorbonne.
  • Walk to the Place du Panthéon and pay a visit to the Saint Etienne du Mont church just behind the Panthéon and then, sit on the steps where Owen Wilson sat in Midnight in Paris !
  • Spend more time in the eastern part of the area (between rue de la Bucherie and the Panthéon).
  • Take a break at Shakespeare and Company’s cafe : a nice place and lovely pastries and snacks. The coffee is delicious too.  Shakespeare and Company café – rue de la Bucherie – Paris 5 – Metro Saint Michel

Link to the article :  Shakespeare and company 

Nearby Notre Dame

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Midnight in Paris - L'affiche

Romantic Paris

Midnight in Paris - L'affiche

“Midnight in Paris” (2011) is a romantic comedy film, set in Paris, written and directed by Woody Allen. While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée’s family, Gil, a writer finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920’s. He loves Paris and dreams of living in the city after getting married to his fiancée. Gil believes that the golden age of Paris was in the 204s and loves walking in the city.  While going back to the 20’s, he meets his favorite artists : Hemingway, Picasso, Fitzgerald, Dali…

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Some of the movie’s spots :

  • St Etienne du Mont church, Where, willing to be alone, Gil take a breath of fresh air. The “magic” steps are to the side of the
    THE steps

    THE steps

    church facing north. The church is where, Blaise Pascal, Jean Racine are buried. rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève – Paris 5 – Metro : Cardinal Lemoine or Luxembourg

 

  • Rue Galande Paris 5 – On the left bank with little shops. x - Rue Galande b03f762c
  • Hotel Le Bristol, John and Helen stay at the five star Hôtel Le Bristol in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. They are accompanied by their daughter Inez and her writer fiancé …        Hotel Le Bristol – 112 rue du Faubourg st Honoré – Paris 1st :  a luxurious Parisian hotel where Gil and Inez are staying. Metro stop : Miromesnil
  • Hotel Le Meurice, Gil, Inez, Paul and Nina enjoy a wine-tasting on a terrace of this hotel. – A five-star luxury hotel in Paris.  Overlooking the Tuileries. Among this hotel’s guests : Queen Victoria, Alphonse XIII, the Shah of Iran, Tchaïkovshy, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali (Dali spent at least one month of each year at Le Meurice)…Le Meurice –  228 rue de Rivoli – Paris 1stCocktail avec arrière plan Tour Eiffel0
  • Restaurant Le Grand Véfour, 17 rue de Beaujolais (nearby the Palais Royal) – Metro stop : Bourse or Pyramides  : Where Gil and Inez dine with her parents. A restaurant with a impressive list of customers : Napoleon, Josephine,Colette,Victor Hugo,Jean Paul Sartre, Jean Cocteau…  
  • Place Vendome, Paris 1  – Metro stop : Tuileries : where Inez and her mother talk wedding rings in Chopard .x- ChopardVendomeView_Midnight
  • Restaurant Le Polidor, Where Gil meets and talks to Hemingway about his book. Le Polidor – 41 rue Monsieur le Prince – Paris 6 – Metro : Odéon –  Among Le Polidor’s guests : Ernest Hemingway, Paul Verlaine, André Gide, James Joyce, Antonin Artaud, Jack Kerouac.restaurant-polidor-midnight-in-paris-film-locations-ouen-paris
  • Restaurant Paul, When a coach and horses arrive to give Adriana her own trip back into the past. Some regulars at this restaurant : Yves Montand and Simone Signoret, who happened to live in an apartment above the restaurant. Restaurant Paul – rue Henri Robert, Place Dauphine – Paris 1st (at the opposite end of the Ile de la Cité – Metro : Pont Neuf – Restaurant Paul filename-dscn2946-jpg
  • Rodin Museum, Where Paul contradicts the guide about the women Rodin was involved with.    Musée Rodin – Hotel Biron 79 rue de Varenne – Paris 7 – Metro stop : Varenne. 

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  • Orangerie Museum, Place de la Concorde – Paris 1 – Metro Concorde – Some of Monet’s pictures are displayed there with works by Paul cézanne, Henri Matisse, Renoir and others.
  • Quai de Bourbon on the western tip of the Saint Louis island Metro Pont Marie. Gil goes to a party with Cole Porter playing piano, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.2015-01-21 - Midnight in Paris - Capture d’écran 2015-01-21 à 04.24.11
  • 17, Rue Malebranche – Paris 5 Metro : Luxembourgrue Malebranche - 9010008908_cdcb9b9c48
  • 27, rue de Fleurus – Paris 6 – Metro Saint Placide – Where Gil meets Pablo Picasso his his current mistress Adriana (Marion Cotillard)
    • Montmartre : rue du Chevalier de la Barre and rue Lamarck – Metro : Anvers or Lamark Caulaincourt
  • Parc Jean XXIII, Ile de la Cité Paris 1er  (behind Notre Dame) – Metro stop : Saint Michel or La Cité – Where Adriana’s journal is read to Gil.midnightinparis10
  • Maison Deyrolle, 46 rue du Bac – Paris – Metro : rue du Bac – Where the Surrealist wedding party takes place.
  • Maxim’s 3 rue Royale – Metro Concorde
  • L’Ile de France, 59, Quai de la Tournelle – Where Gil goes after finally splitting with Inez.
  • Shakespeare and Company, 37, rue de la Bucherie – Paris 5shakespeare-and-co
  • Pont Alexandre III, metro : Invalides  : where Gil and Gabrielle meet up in the rain. He acknowledges that “Paris is at its most beautiful in the rain”    Fin de l'histoire - tumblr_ndqmrwjFrN1re6b50o1_500

Rain Scene - hqdefault

Midnight in Paris (In French : “Minuit à Paris”) – 2011 – Directed by Woody Allen – with Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Léa Seydoux, Rachel McAdams, Tom Hiddlestrn, Alison Pill, Kathy Bates, Corey Stoll, Adien Brody, Olivier Rabourdin, Kurt Fuller

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Visit Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian : 

  • You’d like to feel like a local and having a tour in a Paris neighborhood, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?
  • You’d like to discover Paris off the beaten path and get a real feel of an authentic Paris ?
  • You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians?

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  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and show you “my” Paris. And Paris will become “your” city too 🙂
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