The Latin Quarter

In the picturesque Paris district number 5, we can find one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of Paris - the Latin Quarter. It is here where the Sorbonne University is located, cafes full of students, and several bookstores with one of the most famous, Shakespeare and Company.

This is one of the most popular places in Paris and you can spend your time here in one of the many local cafes or restaurants. The fact that it is a student district contributes significantly to the relaxed atmosphere, as the Latin Quarter is home to one of the world's most important universities, the Sorbonne. In fact the neighborhood owes its name to the Medieval Era when the inhabitants of the area were students who used Latin to communicate.

Since the Middle Ages, the students of the Latin Quarter had a great influence on France, and during the 19th and 20th centuries, they carried out student movements of great political significance. The Latin neighborhood was one of the hot spots during the May Revolution of '68. Being a student district contributes significantly to the relaxed atmosphere.

It is definitely the place with the largest concentration of traditional Parisian cafes, pastry shops, and classic restaurants. The Latin Quarter is rightly called the beating heart of Paris.

Families can visit the Garden of Plants a paradise for children and adults, zoophiles and botanists. In the 17th century, when the Jardin des Plantes was called the Royal Garden, herbs and all kinds of medicinal plants were grown here for the nobility. Today, we can find over 4,500 different types of plants and flowers and a number of themed gardens – there is, for example, a rose garden, an alpine garden, or a winter garden in the Art Deco style. 

You can find here as well the Museum of Natural History and the local zoo. The zoo was founded right after the Great French Revolution (1789) and is therefore the oldest in France. Spacious and beautiful enclosures are mainly for big game, i.e. antelopes, bison, or goats, and the local mini-zoo is definitely worth a visit.

The main artery of the district and the backbone of the entire area is the Boulevard Saint-Michel, which was built by Baron Hausmann during the rebuilding of Paris in the 19th century. The boulevard runs from the square of the same name, which is decorated with a monumental fountain reaching a height of 26 meters with a statue of St. Michael slaying the dragon. Around the boulevard are labyrinths of narrow cobbled streets with many restaurants, bistros, and souvenir shopping opportunities.

On the territory of the district, you will also come across the remains of the Gallo-Roman city of Lutécia, in the form of the amphitheater Arènes de Lutèce from the 1st century, as well as the preserved part of the Roman public baths, which are now part of the National Museum of the Middle Ages in the Palace of Cluny.

The Latin Quarter in Paris is therefore much more than just a district: it is a true cultural and historical jewel, a place where the past and the present mingle to create a unique and captivating atmosphere. Whether for its remarkable architecture, its major cultural role, its prestigious university establishments or its lively student life, the Latin Quarter continues to attract visitors from around the world in search of inspiration and discovery.