Latin Quarter

From the Gallo-Roman period, two remarkable traces survive: the Arènes de Lutèce, built in the 1st century AD, and the ancient Thermes de Cluny, ignored for more than fifteen centuries and rediscovered only in 1869 during Haussmann's works. The quarter's fame truly began in the 13th century with the founding of the prestigious Sorbonne, established in 1253 by the theologian Robert de Sorbon. Populated largely by students, the neighbourhood takes its name from the Latin-language courses held here since the Middle Ages.

This area is a genuine mix of historic sites spanning different artistic periods. During the walk, we will journey through the centuries, evoking the glorious Roman past, climbing the hill of Sainte-Geneviève to admire the neoclassical Panthéon and the magnificent church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, which houses the only surviving rood screen in Paris. It is worth remembering that before the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon was the tallest monument in the capital.

The visit will also be an opportunity to recall the famous colleges that drew intellectuals from across the world, and to wander through a maze of narrow streets such as the rue de la Huchette, the rue de la Harpe and the rue du Chat-qui-Pêche. We will end our walk in the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens, created at the request of Queen Marie de' Medici in 1612, and today home to the French Senate.