neighborhood
Latin Quarter
The student quarter around the Sorbonne, medieval lanes, bookshops and lively bistros.
History & context
Cradle of the University of Paris since the 12th century, the Latin Quarter takes its name from the Latin spoken by students until the Revolution.
Sorbonne, Collège de France, historic bookshops and the Seine bouquinistes keep its intellectual life vivid.
Key facts
- Style
- Medieval & 19th c.
- District
- 5th — Left Bank
Why visit
- ·Panthéon and Sorbonne
- ·Shakespeare and Company bookshop
- ·Rue Mouffetard and its market
- ·Arènes de Lutèce — Roman remains
- ·Luxembourg Garden nearby
What to see
- ·Panthéon
- ·Sorbonne
- ·Shakespeare and Company
- ·Rue Mouffetard
- ·Arènes de Lutèce
Practical tips
- ·Rue Mouffetard market in the morning
- ·Skip the touts on rue de la Huchette
Anu's insider tip
Walk rue Mouffetard in the morning for the market, then head up to the Panthéon and Shakespeare and Company.
With family
The Luxembourg Gardens are close by: toy sailboats, ponies, playground — perfect for a break with kids.
Frequently asked
＋Is this area very touristy?
＋How much time should I plan?
＋Is it safe in the evening?
Nearby
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Panthéon
Neoclassical mausoleum in the Latin Quarter where France's greats rest: Voltaire, Hugo, Curie, Zola.
Luxembourg Garden
A French garden commissioned by Marie de Medici in 1612, the most beloved Left Bank park.
Notre-Dame de Paris
A Gothic masterpiece on the Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after a historic restoration.
Île de la Cité
Historical cradle of Paris in the middle of the Seine, the founding site of Lutetia.