Last Updated on fifth August 2025 by Sophie Nadeau
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If there’s one space that vacationers ought to make some extent of visiting when wandering across the French capital, it’s Paris’ rive gauche.
Known because the left-bank in English, that is the world to the south of the Seine, an space the place you’ll find college students fretting about their research across the Sorbonne, stylish Parisians with their canine in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and an eclectic mixture of issues to do.
If the climate is heat and sunny, then right here’s the right itinerary for the right way to spend an pleasing afternoon on Paris’ left financial institution.
Paris’ left financial institution itinerary
Arènes de Lutèce
One of probably the most pleasant parks on Paris’ left-bank is little-known, considerably hidden away, and is completely steeped in historical past. After all, one of many foremost methods to entry the area is by heading by way of
Stroll alongside a sun-dappled gravel path and also you’ll quickly emerge into the center of one of the vital historic spots within the metropolis. The Arènes de Lutèce date again to a time when Paris was often called Lutetia.
Paris Panthéon
The Pantheon was truly initially meant to be a church devoted to St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, commissioned by King Louis XV in 1755 after he recovered from sickness.
Designed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot, it was constructed within the neoclassical type, impressed by the Pantheon in Rome. Completed in 1790, it was swiftly remodeled right into a secular mausoleum throughout the French Revolution, meant to honour France’s nice thinkers and patriots.
Over the next centuries, it alternated between spiritual and civic use earlier than being completely established as a nationwide monument. Today, it homes the stays of nice thinkers, philosophers, and scientists, similar to Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie. Buy your Panthéon admission ticket right here prematurely.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
Nestled within the shadow of the Panthéon you’ll discover a smaller but equally as spectacular constructing. The church of Saint-Étienne du Mont is totally free to go to and is the ultimate resting place for the relics of Saint Genevieve, encased in a golden coffin.
Built between the fifteenth and Seventeenth centuries, it’s best-known for its intricate rood display, which is the final remaining on in Paris (and is understood in French as jubé), in addition to its beautiful stained glass home windows.
Grab a pastry at Odette
Odette Paris is a captivating pâtisserie positioned within the Latin Quarter near the church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. Housed inside a Seventeenth-century constructing, the primary factor on the menu are delicate cream puffs (often called choux à la crème in French).
There are all types of flavours similar to vanilla, pistachio, caramel, and raspberry. What’s extra is that there’s usually a visitor flavour of the month, that means that no two visits are the identical.
Cream puffs are undoubtedly slightly dear, at round €2,50 however you solely want a pair as they’re fairly wealthy in flavour and surprisingly filling for one thing stuffed with Chantilly cream! Odette additionally has a second location on Rue Montorgueil for takeaway and faster service.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Situated throughout the sixth arrondissement, the Jardin du Luxembourg is among the metropolis’s most beloved inexperienced areas. Commissioned in 1612 by Queen Marie de’ Medici, the gardens have been designed within the type of the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
Today the gardens sprawl over 25 hectares, that includes formal French and picturesque English sections. My favorite spot of all must be the Medici Fountain.
The most well-known facet of the backyard must be the long-lasting inexperienced chairs, that are laid out throughout the park, overlooking a central fountain the place little toy sailboats are pushed throughout the water by the youthful residents of the town.
Jardin du Luxembourg can also be dwelling to the French Senate, housed within the Luxembourg Palace, and sometimes host artwork exhibitions, puppet reveals, and crusing boats on the pond.
Saint Sulpice
Just exterior of Jardin du Luxembourg you’ll come throughout Saint Sulpice, which you will effectively recognise because it featured as a outstanding a part of the storyline in Dan Brown’s the Da Vinci Code.
Built between the Seventeenth and 18th centuries, it’s on of the most important church buildings in Paris, second solely to Notre-Dame. The church options spectacular murals by Eugène Delacroix and a famend Clicquot organ.
Café de Flore
Though definitely one of many extra touristy eateries within the metropolis, the long-lasting Café de Flore was made well-known by intellectuals, writers, and artists all through the twentieth century who have been drawn to its open ambiance and in depth listing of drinks.
Now considerably of a Parisian establishment, throughout the Thirties and Nineteen Forties, it was famously frequented by existentialist philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, who used it as a considering and writing area.
Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest church in Paris and was truly based all the best way again within the sixth century as a part of a Benedictine abbey. Located only a stone’s throw away from Café de Flore, it combines Romanesque and Gothic parts.
Once a centrepoint of medieval scholarship and monastic life, it performed an important function within the metropolis’s early spiritual and mental growth. Despite sustaining harm throughout the French Revolution, the church remains to be used as a spot of worship to today.
Musée d’Orsay
Located in a former practice station and best-known for its lovely clock, to not point out a number of the most well-known artwork items on the earth, the Musée d’Orsay is a must-visit whereas within the French capital metropolis.
While the Beaux-Arts railway station was in-built 1900, it didn’t function for quite a lot of many years earlier than being closed to passengers in 1939. By 1986 it was remodeled right into a museum, specializing in french artwork from 1848 to 1914.
Among the various treasures housed over quite a few flooring of the museum, guests can get pleasure from masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Cézanne.
The museum truly bridges the time span between the Louvre and Centre Pompidou, showcasing Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Purchase your Musée d’Orsay ticket right here prematurely.
Dinner at Le Bistrot d’Henri
If there’s one restaurant that I can’t appear to advocate sufficient to guests to the town it’s Le Bistrot d’Henri. In reality, I really like this eating institution a lot that we truly had a meal right here after our small civil wedding ceremony ceremony within the coronary heart of Paris!
The menu is easy, à la carte eating, the place parts are hearty and elements are recent and native. The restaurant solely has 14 covers or so, and so I like to recommend reserving a desk forward of time to keep away from disappointment.
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