PARIS RIVE GAUCHE 

QUARTIER LATIN & SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

Art and creativity lives on Paris’s Left Bank! As the years go by, this area of Paris is becoming a major cultural centre for the capital. But, the little intellectual universe of Paris was already bubbling in the 17^th century, taking over Saint-Germain-des-Près and the Latin Quarter, so named because of the university courses given there in the language of the ancient Romans. Though the language may be dead, the student tradition still lives on! This is the perfect district to find books and music, at the famous library Gibert, notably. Many pubs on the Rue Saint-André-des-Arts, such as Corcoran's Irish or the Mazet, allow you to immerse yourself in the Parisian student life, in addition to the historical café Procope, frequented by Diderot or Voltaire at their time.

THE PANTHÉON

The Panthéon’s majestic silhouette and dome is located at the top of the Sainte-Geneviève Mountain, the historic hill of the Latin Quarter. After the French Revolution, this former church, dedicated to the Paris Patron Saint, has housed in its crypt a necropolis with well-known French figures like Victor Hugo, Marie Curie or Alexandre Dumas.

FROM ÎLE DE LA CITÉ TO ÎLE SAINT-LOUIS

What if Paris were an island? Get a taste of insularity on these two confetti islands that form the historic heart of the capital. On Île Saint-Louis, you'll find cobbled streets and famous ice cream parlors like Maison Bertillon, in a village spirit miraculously preserved. Cross from one island to the other via the Pont Saint-Louis, often an impromptu stage for street performances. Move from the strolling lanes of Île Saint-Louis to the hustle and bustle of Île de la Cité. On this side, there's a lot more going on. Everything is organized around Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of Paris' most emblematic historic monuments.

FROM THE PANTHÉON TO RUE MOUFFETARD

After a stop at the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, it's a good idea to stroll to the Latin Quarter, dotted with bookshops, pubs and restaurants. Near the ancient arenas of Lutetia, the lovely Place de la Contrescarpe takes you to Rue Mouffetard, one of the capital's oldest streets, well known for its dense and picturesque commercial activity. Countless restaurants and cafés rub shoulders with butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, cheesemongers and bakeries along this long, narrow cobbled street. Much frequented by students, the Mouffetard district is even livelier in the evening, especially on the Place de la Contrescarpe, where it would be unthinkable not to stop for a coffee on the terrace.