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Offered languages
- English
- French
This tour is an immersion in the literary and philosophical past of Paris’s celebrated Latin Quarter as well as the history of the neighbourhood that goes back to Gallo-Roman times. Your guide will be a local expert—a graduate of The Sorbonne in philosophy who also lives in the neighbourhood.
In the space of a short time, key periods from the 2000-year history of the Latin Quarter come alive. It all starts with a lively exchange over coffee: you will meet with your guide at a charming café on an Ancient Roman road just steps away from where René Descartes would live on his stays in Paris.
After a short introduction and some time to get to know one another, guests set out to explore the hill that includes the Panthéon, The Sorbonne and the childhood haunts of Jean-Paul Sartre, the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and more. Prepare to be completely immersed in the history of Paris!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We will meet at the café "La Contrescarpe"—located directly on Place de la Contrescarpe—where we will enjoy a coffee before setting out on our walking tour.
Itinerary
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1Place de la Contrescarpe
Our visit will start along the Rue Mouffetard, where Hemingway's A Moveable Feast opens. We'll make our way to the Pantheon and the steps where Owen Wilson is whisked away into the past in A Midnight in Paris. Also the apartment where Sartre lived as a child, The Sorbonne, the location of the original Shakespeare & Co and Saint-Germain-des-Près...
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Pantheon (Pass by)
We will see the Panthéon from the outside as we pass across the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. Originally designed as the Church of Saint Genevieve, it became almost immediately a burial site for notable French citizens.
Admission ticket free -
La Sorbonne (Pass by)
As a graduate of The Sorbonne, your guide knows the institution well and you will learn about the history of foundation of the University of Paris in the course of this tour.
Admission ticket free -
2Saint Germain des Pres
We finish our tour at the onetime Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Once an important place of learning and centre of religious and civic life for the neighbourhood, you will also see the second of Jean-Paul Sartre's homes in Paris. His first will appear earlier in the tour.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3St. Etienne du Mont
Around the Church of St Etienne, we have a number of sites that we will see. If the church is open, we may be able to go in, but this is not guaranteed.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Odeon
Near Odéon, we will pass by the original Shakespeare and Company, the onetime home of Thomas Paine, one of the first cafés of Paris...
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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