ÎLE SAINT-LOUIS

Description

Essentials about the Île Saint-Louis in brief

Île Saint-Louis is the smaller of the two inland islands on the Seine and much less touristy than its “big sister”, Île de la Cité. This is because there are no sights in the narrower sense on Île Saint-Louis. Nevertheless, all visitors to Paris are advised to make a detour to the small island, because many people consider it to be the hidden jewel of Paris.

The history of the Île Saint-Louis

While the neighboring Île de la Cité was settled early on, Île Saint-Louis remained undeveloped until the beginning of the 17th century. At that time, by the way, the island was still separated by an arm of the Seine into two small islets, both of which belonged to the church and were used as cattle pastures. Because of the acute lack of space on Île de la Cité, development of Île Saint-Louis finally began in the early 17th century under King Louis XIII. The two small islands were enclosed with a quay wall, the arm of the Seine separating them was filled in and bridges to the river banks were built. The newly won city area was first built with houses for craftsmen and merchants, later noblemen also began to build luxurious city palaces here. Île Saint-Louis received its name in 1729 in memory of Louis IX, who was canonized in the 13th century.

The attractions on Île Saint-Louis

Due to its beautiful, stately buildings, Île Saint-Louis is still one of the most sought-after and expensive places to live in Paris. If you don’t want to buy an apartment right away, you should just stroll through the idyllic alleys of the island, where you can discover many small stores and galleries. The view of the Île de la Cité and the nave of Notre-Dame is also beautiful from here. And of course, on Île Saint-Louis you can also enjoy yourself in some nice cafes, bistros and restaurants. Some people also say that the island has the best ice cream in Paris.