Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

About Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the quarters of the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank, between the Latin Quarter and the Musée d'Orsay. Its name, 'Saint Germain of the Meadows', comes from the abbey founded in the 6th century among the flood meadows by the river. Little was built here before the 17th century because of flooding, and a village of bakeries and workshops surrounded the monastery.

In the 19th century Boulevard Saint-Germain was cut through the quarter, and in the 20th it became the heart of literary and artistic Paris. Publishers and bookshops flourished, students of the École des Beaux-Arts studied here, and in the 1940s and 1950s the quarter's cafés became home to the existentialists, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

What to see in the quarter

• The church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés — among the oldest in Paris.
• Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore — legendary boulevard cafés.
• Le Procope — one of the first cafés in Paris.
• The École des Beaux-Arts — on Rue Bonaparte.
• Rue Jacob and Rue de Buci — antiques, galleries and food shops.
• Place de Furstenberg — a tiny corner of lamps and trees.

The former abbey church

The church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is what remains of one of France's most important monasteries. The Frankish king Childebert I, son of Clovis, founded the abbey, consecrated in 558, and it was later dedicated to Saint Germain, bishop of Paris. The present building with its sturdy Romanesque bell tower dates from the 11th century, and the choir in the new Gothic style was consecrated by Pope Alexander III in 1163. Its flying buttresses are among the first around Paris.

Inside, look for the tall nave with carved capitals and the vivid 19th-century painting, with walls and vaults covered in blue, gold and red ornament and murals. A recent restoration brought the colours back to life. The monastery was a centre of learning whose monks copied manuscripts that circulated across Europe.

The famous cafés

Saint-Germain's cafés are part of Paris history. On the corner of the square stands Les Deux Magots, with Café de Flore next door: at their tables Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Hemingway, Picasso and many others wrote, argued and met. Opposite is Brasserie Lipp, a meeting place of politicians and writers.

It was at the Saint-Germain fair in 1672 that the first café in Paris appeared, when coffee was thought of more as medicine. On the Cour du Commerce Saint-André stands Le Procope, one of the city's oldest cafés, once frequented by Voltaire, Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin, its interior still evoking the 18th century.

Galleries, books and Rue de Buci

On Rue Bonaparte stands the École des Beaux-Arts, where Degas, Seurat, Bonnard and many other artists studied. Around it are dozens of art galleries, antique shops and bookshops, and Rue Jacob is known for its design showrooms. On this street, at the Hôtel d'York, the Treaty of Paris recognising US independence was signed on 3 September 1783.

Rue de Buci and the lanes nearby are full of grocers, cheese shops, pâtisseries and florists, with street stalls at weekends. Close by hides tiny Place de Furstenberg, with its lamps and paulownia trees, one of the most romantic squares in Paris.

A quarter of craft and taste

People love Saint-Germain for its mix of history and style: fashion boutiques, chocolatiers and famous pâtisseries sit beside 17th-century mansions. The boulevard and nearby streets hold clothing, perfume and design shops, while the side streets have small bistros with set-price lunches.

From here it's an easy walk to the Luxembourg Gardens, Saint-Sulpice church, the booksellers' quays and the Musée d'Orsay. The Pont des Arts footbridge links the quarter to the Louvre.

Tips for your visit

The quarter pairs well with the Latin Quarter and the Luxembourg Gardens, which border it. Allow an hour and a half to two hours for an unhurried stroll with coffee.

The church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is free to enter, but visitors are asked not to walk around during Mass. Classical concerts are sometimes held in the church in the evening.

For intellectual Paris, browse the quarter's bookshops; for shopping, try the concept stores on Rue de Seine and Rue Saint-Sulpice.

Places in Paris: compare and choose

Places in Paris rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Nearby and on the way

51

Saint-Sulpice

Paris, France

30 min · Free · 6 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Saint-Sulpice

52

Pont Neuf

Paris, France

25 min · Free · 12 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Pont Neuf

45

Latin Quarter

Paris, France

2 h 30 min · Free, it's a city district · 13 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Latin Quarter

40

Musée de Cluny

Paris, France

1 h 45 min · Ticketed, free under 18 · 13 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Musée de Cluny

How to do it right

• Coffee on a terrace.
• Galleries on Rue Jacob.
• The church is free.
• Luxembourg is close.

Questions