The Latin Quarter is the hub of student life in Paris. It is overflowing
with bookstores, cafés, and theaters. It is contained in a fairly
small area starting at the Seine across from Notre Dame and extending to
the Palais de Luxembourg.
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It is home to one of the most famous institutions of learning in the world:
the Sorbonne. The Sorbonne is the seat of the University of Paris
dating back to 1253.
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Just down the road is the Pantéon which looks like a church
(a was built with that intention) but is in fact a tomb for some very famous
Frenchmen. Among the buried here are: Honoré Mirabeau, Voltaire,
Jean Moulin, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Emile Zola.
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Boulevard St-Michel is loaded with stores and restaurants. Lots
of clothing stores and theaters also. It is a major north-south road of
the left bank.
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The Musée de Cluny is a unique combination of Gallo-Roman
ruins in a medival mansion. There are still the Roman baths from 200 AD
here.
This area is packed with small, narrow, winding streets that are great
for wandering around in. There are so many little unknown places to be
discovered. Do not hesitate to take some time and just see what interesting
things you can find. The area closest to the Seine is very old and it will
be quite obvious by looking at the buildings. Cobblestone streets still
exist in some places. |