Discover Paris
Focus on the
6th arrondissement
Once the gathering place for bohemians and intellectuals, St. Germain is one of the most picturesque and lively arrondissements in the city.
St Germain des Pres has a collection of upscale boutiques, art galleries, interior design shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and jazz clubs and is an extension of the Latin Quartier with a more chic, artistic and intellectual feel to it.
The chic Luxembourg area, with its beautiful Palais du Luxembourg and Jardin du Luxembourg, has a quieter more spacious feeling and is very popular with families, students and tourists.
The rue de Rennes and adjoining streets host a number of designer and high street fashion labels, whilst rue du Cherche Midi offers many independent boutiques making it a haven for shoppers.
The smaller streets bordering the seventh are calmer and more residential.
Properties
This area is extremely sought-after, particularly by foreign investors who have made property prices here rise to an all-time high. With its central location, its views of the river, its parks and its proximity to the 7th arrondissement, it is very popular indeed. Haussmann-style architecture reigns in the district along with some even older buildings in the St Germain area.
Although mainly residential and commercial, many of the buildings are now being monopolised by businesses. Traffic and parking is difficult but public transport is excellent.
Ten things you should do in the 5th Arrondissement
- Take an exclusive tour of the Palais du Luxembourg. Only available by reservation one Saturday each month, this is a unique visit you don't want to miss. Afterwards you can enjoy the beautiful gardens featuring the Fontaine de Medici.
- Visit Le Procope, the oldest restaurant in the city. Once a favorite of Voltaire and Diderot, this quaint cafe was the first of its kind in the City of Light.
- Quai Voltaire along the Seine, where Voltaire died, is a fantastic place for people to watch and soak up the atmosphere of Paris.
- Visit the famous Saint Sulpice church and admire the gnomon, originally installed to determine the date on which Easter falls.
- Rue de Buci which was once covered in tennis fields, is now famous for its street market. There are also a number of excellent food shops that will make your mouth water.
- If you're searching for a chocolate fix, Cacao et Chocolat in the rue de Buci is the place to go. An upscale chocolate boutique, C&C offers a wide assortment of delicious chocolate products, including homemade hot chocolate.
- If you feel like experiencing the charm of a Parisian hole-in-the-wall, check out dix Bar on rue de Odéon. Enjoy a cheap glass of wine and listen to accordion music whilst mingling with an artistic crowd.
- Eglise St Germain-des-Prés, the oldest church in Paris, was founded in 542 and is the famous burial place of many high profile individuals.
- For a more cultural glimpse at the 6th arrondissement, consider stopping by the Musée National Eugène Delacroix. Home to Delcroix and a number of other prominent artists, it was made a national museum in 1971.
- While walking on the Seine it is worth crossing over the Pont Neuf to enjoy the views. This bridge is the oldest in Paris and featured in many movies including the French film Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (Lovers on the Bridge).
