The Latin Quarter is located in the heart of Paris in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is a very touristy area but has also been for centuries the historic University district. The Latin Quarter has a rich heritage which goes back to the Romans period. In 52 B.C. the Gallic occupied the Ile de la Cite when the Romans were based on the Sainte-Genevieve hill, hence the presence of monuments such as the Thermae or the Lutece Arenas. But when the city grows rapidly in the 12th century, the diocese of Paris moved on the left bank of the Seine which led to the creation of the first university in France. Paris is a city of art, culture, history but is also a student city.
The Latin Quarter is the birthplace of this Parisian student life. Its name is by the way related to the student life as the use of the Latin language was common in the schools and universities of the area. We can find for example the ‘Ecole Normale Supérieure’ – famous French Science school -, the famous ‘Sorbonne’ university and the national school of the ‘Beaux-Arts’. There is also the historic Medical School now a University that was initially founded in the middle-age. They makes the area lively and prestigious at the same time. But the Latin Quarter has many other undeniable assets. Beyond those prestigious universities, numerous monuments are located in this area. The Pantheon located on the “Sainte-Geneviève” hill, the national museum of the Middle Age (Cluny Museum), the Luxembourg garden with the Medicis Palace or the Lutetia Arenas are also good reasons to stroll in the Latin Quarter.
The Latin Quarter is a must-see during your trip in Paris. Immerge yourself in the student atmosphere and enjoy a unique place in Paris on your own or with a guide for a memorable walking tour.
