LATIN QUARTER

Description

Essentials about the Latin Quarter in brief

The Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is the traditional student district in Paris and is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the French capital for both tourists and locals. However, the special charm of the Latin Quarter is not its famous universities, but the many small streets and alleys where you can find cafes, snack bars, restaurants and stores in abundance. The Latin Quarter is also home to the Panthéon, the national hall of fame, the Musée national du Moyen Âge, Luxembourg Palace and the park Jardin du Luxembourg.

The universities in the Latin Quarter

The name of the quarter derives from the fact that in the past, classes at the academic institutions were still held in Latin. The term quartier does not refer to a district in the strict sense of the Parisian administrative structure, but to an area with imprecise boundaries located on the southern bank of the Seine, largely on the slopes of the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. It is home to some of France’s most important and well-known academic institutions, such as the Sorbonne, the École normale supérieure, and Mines ParisTech. The two elite French high schools, Henri IV and Louis le Grand, are also located in the Latin Quarter.

The charm of the Latin Quarter

What makes the special charm of the Latin Quarter are the many small streets and alleys of the neighborhood, which did not fall victim to the massive redevelopment of the old city of Paris in the 19th century. Here you can find numerous small cafes, snack bars, restaurants and also stores. Many writers have lived in the area or written about it – Honoré de Balzac, Gabriel García Márquez and Klaus Mann may be mentioned here as representatives. In May 1968, the Latin Quarter was one of the main sites of the great French student riots.

Visiting the Latin Quarter

The best way to explore the Latin Quarter is to simply drift aimlessly through it. This is the best way to get a feel for the special atmosphere of the area. Of course, if you prefer to head for individual attractions, you can do that, too. There are plenty of sights in the Latin Quarter: the Panthéon, the national hall of fame, the Musée national du Moyen Âge, the Luxembourg Palace with its beautiful park Jardin du Luxembourg, and many more.