Saint-Germain-des-Prés & Latin Quarter

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arr.)

Saint-Germain is the intellectual heart of Paris — the district where Sartre and Beauvoir philosophized at Café de Flore, Hemingway wrote at Café Les Deux Magots, and Miles Davis played in the jazz cellars. Today it is elegant and expensive, but the spirit of literature and philosophy lives on: antiquarian bookshops, galleries, the oldest church in Paris (Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th century), and some of the best bakeries and chocolatiers in the world.

• Café de Flore: The most famous literary meeting place in the world — Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus sat here. Café crème: 7€ (yes, expensive — you pay for the history).
• Les Deux Magots: The rival café next door — equally famous, equally expensive, same literary history.
• Rue de Buci: Market street with fruits, flowers, cheese, and croissants — perfect for a morning stroll.

Latin Quarter (5th Arr.)

The Latin Quarter — so named because Latin was spoken here at the Sorbonne until the French Revolution — has been Parisian student life for 800 years. Narrow streets, inexpensive restaurants (especially Greek on Rue de la Huchette), bookstores (Shakespeare and Company is a must!), jazz cellars, and the Panthéon.

• Shakespeare and Company: The most legendary bookstore in the world (since 1951, successor to Sylvia Beach's): English-language books, readings, and the tradition that young writers can sleep in the bookstore for free. Opposite Notre-Dame.
• Panthéon: France's hall of fame: Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Marie Curie, Joséphine Baker. The dome offers a 360° view. Admission: 11.50€.
• Jardin du Luxembourg: The quintessential Parisian park: metal chairs at the Grand Bassin, children's sailboats, joggers, students with books. Free and indispensable.