Quartier Latin
Let's Go for a Walk!

Start

A lovely starting point for your walk through the Latin Quarter is Place Saint-Michel (Metro Line 4, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame), home to the impressive Saint Michael Fountain. It was built in 1850 as part of Baron Haussmann’s transformation of the district. The striking statue of the Archangel Michael battling the Devil in the form of a dragon is framed by four pink marble columns.

From here, Boulevard Saint-Michel, one of the quarter’s two main thoroughfares alongside Boulevard Saint-Germain, cuts directly through the neighbourhood.

1. Stop

Let’s begin by passing the Sorbonne, now that we’ve explored a little of its history. Follow Rue Hautefeuille until you reach the Faculty of Medicine. From there, continue left towards Boulevard Saint-Michel. Cross the boulevard and turn left into Rue Cujas, where you’ll walk alongside the impressive Sorbonne complex.

 

2. Stop

Following the street brings you to the Panthéon, a magnificent neoclassical building originally commissioned by Louis XV as a church dedicated to Paris’s patron saint, Saint Geneviève. Her relics were once kept here, although they were destroyed during the French Revolution. Fortunately, the beautiful frescoes depicting her life have survived.

The revolutionaries removed the religious symbols and even bricked up the windows, transforming the church into a mausoleum for distinguished figures of the Revolution. Later, Napoleon I restored its religious function, but following the death of Victor Hugo, it once again became a secular resting place for France’s great men and women.

Today, alongside Marie Curie, you’ll also find the tombs of Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Émile Zola and many other notable French figures.

One of the building’s scientific highlights is Foucault’s Pendulum, first suspended beneath the dome in 1849 to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation.

The colonnade at the top of the dome offers panoramic views over Paris and can be visited as part of an official guided tour. (If you’re simply after a great viewpoint, the rooftop terrace of the Institut du Monde Arabe, around a 15-minute walk away, is an excellent alternative.)

Before moving on, it’s worth making a short detour to Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, located just opposite the Panthéon. This church is also dedicated to Saint Geneviève and houses her empty sarcophagus. Particularly noteworthy are its elegant Renaissance spiral staircases, which form part of the only surviving rood screen in Paris — the architectural partition that once separated the clergy from the congregation.

3. Stop

After visiting the Panthéon, turn right into Rue Descartes, which eventually leads into Rue Mouffetard, our next stop. Beyond its grand boulevards and monumental buildings, the Latin Quarter is also known for its charming, romantic side streets. One of the most beautiful is undoubtedly Rue Mouffetard.

Its uneven cobblestones and historic houses dating back to the 16th century evoke the atmosphere of “Old Paris”. Ernest Hemingway, who lived nearby, described it as “a wonderful narrow crowded market street”. And you can still follow in his footsteps today. The morning market (Tuesday to Sunday) offers a wealth of culinary delights, while the street is lined with specialist food shops selling regional produce and an eclectic mix of independent boutiques. In the afternoons and evenings, its cafés, restaurants and bars invite visitors to linger and soak up the atmosphere.

 

4. Stop

We now continue to the Grand Mosque of Paris. It was built by the French government after the First World War as a tribute to the Muslim soldiers – many from France’s colonies – who had fought in the French army. Around 70,000 lost their lives during the conflict.

During the Second World War, the mosque’s imam became involved in the French Resistance and is credited with saving many Jewish lives by providing forged documents identifying them as Muslims.

The mosque is open to visitors daily except Fridays. Women are not permitted to enter the prayer hall, but they do have access to the traditional hammam. For everyone, however, the beautiful inner courtyard is a wonderful place to relax. Paved with turquoise tiles and planted with palm and fig trees, it feels like a peaceful oasis in the heart of Paris. Enjoying mint tea and traditional pastries from the mosque’s tea room is highly recommended.

By the way: Just next door lies another oasis of a very different kind: the Jardin des Plantes, Paris’s famous botanical garden.

 

5. Stop

We now make our way back towards the starting point of the tour. Our destination is the Musée de Cluny, also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages.

The museum consists of two remarkable historic sites. The first is the Thermes de Cluny, once among the largest Roman baths in the city, of which the impressive cold-water bath remains largely intact. The second is the Hôtel de Cluny, built between 1485 and 1490 by the Abbot of Cluny as a residence and guest house.

One of its later residents, the archaeologist and art collector Alexandre du Sommerard, assembled an extensive collection of medieval artworks and everyday objects. Following his death in 1842, these collections formed the basis of the museum, which has continued to grow ever since.

Today, visitors can admire paintings, sculptures, clothing, goldwork, ivory carvings and religious artefacts from across Europe. The undisputed highlight is the famous six-piece tapestry cycle The Lady and the Unicorn, created in the 15th century. Five of the tapestries represent the human senses, while the meaning of the sixth remains open to interpretation. It depicts the lady placing her necklace into a casket beneath the mysterious inscription: “À mon seul désir” – “To my only desire.”

 

6. Stop

Still got some energy left?

As the Latin Quarter is Paris’s historic student district, it is also an excellent place to experience the city’s nightlife. Rue de la Harpe and Rue de la Huchette are particularly well known for their lively atmosphere, with countless pubs, bars and restaurants.

One of the neighbourhood’s most famous venues is the legendary jazz club Caveau de la Huchette (4,3 on Google with 3.844 reviews) where live music has filled the cellar vaults for decades.

Beyond the main streets, the surrounding lanes and alleyways are packed with inviting bars and traditional pubs, making the area perfect for an evening pub crawl.

Santé!