ABOUT
SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

ABOUT THE QUARTER

Saint-Germain-des-Prés has it all: location, buzz, romance, a bohemian past, luxury shopping, art galleries, as well as famous monuments, historic churches and of course its iconic cafes...
In order to make your journey unforgettable, please find some touristy tips!

Where to eat ?

Saint-Germain-des-Prés has it all: location, buzz, romance, a bohemian past, luxury shopping, art galleries, as well as famous monuments, historic churches and of course its iconic cafes, where intellectuals like Sartre and Hemingway used to hang out back in the day. Perhaps best of all is its access to the Luxembourg Gardens, Paris's best-loved park and a great place to relax in between hectic sightseeing. Two blocks away from the park, you will find Mabillon and Odéon which are packed with little streets and cocktail bars to satisfy your every nightlife need. No matter what your age or preferences, we're pretty confident you'll be thrilled to find yourself staying in this irresistible neighbourhood.

Typical French Bistrot since 1931 Enjoy Chef Ducasse's French rustic and traditional meals from the Escargots de Bourgogne to the Olive-Oil Duck

Discover

Right in front of the St-Germain-des-Prés Church, this place is a must-have to enjoy a breakfast on the wide and buzzing terrace crossing the dynamic parisian "Boulevards"

Book it

If you’ve always thought that you and Hemingway would be the very best of friends, the neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the one for you. This area is classic Paris, with wide, sweeping streets and a bohemian past. Its elegant buildings, fashion boutiques, art galleries and antique shops are sure to keep you entertained and in terms of sightseeing, you can stroll to the Jardin du Luxembourg, Musee Rodin, Musée d’Orsay and Hôtel des Invalides. It's also a great place for families, full of picnic spots for kids.

Since the first popped up on the city’s cobblestone streets 250 years ago, the French capital has become the world leader for culinary holidays. Food and France are utterly interlinked (much like Plum Guide and remarkable homes, if you will), and a trip to Paris can consist entirely of trips from cafe to market to restaurant, with a few wine bar pit stops along the way. In fact, you can learn more from a short weekend getaway (with a roomy pair of trousers) than you could from any French cookbook. For a highly educational city break, we recommend procuring some sort of gilded notebook from one of Paris’ many bookshops (plus a copy of A Moveable Feast, while you’re at it), and allowing the city’s greatest sommeliers, chefs and oyster shuckers to be your professeurs de cuisine.

"Haute-Couture" lovely boutique providing among the best macarons in Paris.

Located at 72 rue Bonaparte, its owner is called

"the Picasso of pastry"

Get greedy!

What to visit ?

31.pnQuick, convenient… and crowded, there’s no disputing that a ride on the Paris Metro is an experience in itself. Purchase tickets at the station if you’re old school, or opt for a carnet of ten. With one ticket you can take the metro anywhere in Paris, wherever your Plum Guide rental may be, just be sure to retain your ticket until you’re out of the Métro system or you could risk a hefty fine. Not ideal for the beret budget, that’s for sure. Much like the London underground, the various lines are colour and number coded, which makes it easy enough to get the hang of. With that said, we’d recommend planning your trip ahead of time on the RATP website to avoid any wrong turns. FYI: for short stays like a long weekend in Paris, one carnet is sufficient, but if you’re lucky enough to call Paris home for a fortnight (or longer), then a Navigo Decouverte card is the way to go. It's a smart card that you load for travel for a week or month, at €21.25 per week and €70.00 per month. Theg

Bohemians and literary legends have been flocking to this left bank neighbourhood for centuries. In many ways, this is the centre of Paris’ iconic cafe culture (a rite of passage for any visitor). The best way to truly drink it all in is to flit from cafe to cafe, copy of Le Parisian in-hand (whether you can read French or not is beside the point). Spots like Cafe Les Deux Magots and Cafe de Flore have inspired some of the world’s most beloved books, so we recommend beginning there. If it’s good enough for Wagner, Picasso and Hemmingway…

Situated on the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens, inspired by the Boboli Gardens at Pitti Palace in Florence, were created under the direction of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612.

The beautiful Luxembourg Palace, now a government building, was originally owned by the Duke of Luxembourg, thus the name.

Visit

Notre-Dame de Paris, also called Notre-Dame Cathedral, cathedral church in Paris. It is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and is distinguished for its size, antiquity, and architectural interest.

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Call upon the expertise of a local to lead this tour of Saint Germain des Prés’ sweetest treats. Meet at the famous Cafe de Flore to stroll through this iconic Left Bank neighbourhood, sampling silky macarons, secret-recipe bakes, cream puffs and the wares of a particularly decadent chocolatier. Paris est une fête, indeed.

The French language and all its nuance are guarded with care by 40 Immortels (Immortals) of the French Academy, founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635. The academy forms part of the Institut de France.

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Former residence of the kings of France turned two centuries ago into one of the greatest museums in the world, a collection of over 35,000 works spread over a 60,000 m2, displaying masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, La Vénus de Milo, le Radeau de la Méduse, la Liberté guidant le peuple… The Louvre Museum is an extraordinary place that must be visited during a stay in Paris.