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.