Latin Quarter

Overview

Located on the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter is the brilliant, chaotic, and historic intellectual heart of Paris. Centered around the Sorbonne University, it remains a lively, youthful labyrinth of narrow streets, cheap eateries, and legendary bookstores.

Highlights

• Shakespeare and Company: The globally iconic, famously cramped and chaotic English-language bookstore sitting just across from Notre-Dame.
• The Panthéon: The monumental mausoleum crowning the highest hill in the district.
• Rue Mouffetard: One of the oldest and most atmospheric market streets in Paris, immortalized by Ernest Hemingway.

History

The area has been dedicated to learning since the Romans founded the city here in the 1st century. It takes its name from the Middle Ages when Latin was the exclusive, mandatory language spoken among the students and scholars of the newly founded Sorbonne University.

Visitor Tips

• Dining: The area around Saint-Michel is packed with aggressive tourist traps offering cheap set menus. For authentic food, head further south towards Rue Mouffetard or the Odéon area.
• Nightlife: The streets behind the Panthéon are packed with lively, inexpensive student bars.
• Duration: 2–3 hours of wandering.