Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
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TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, French
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Overview
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
Coffee and/or Tea
What to expect
Place de la Contrescarpe
30m
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...
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.
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.
Eglise de St. Germain des Pres
10m
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.
St. Etienne du Mont
10m
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.
Odeon
15m
Near Odéon, we will pass by the original Shakespeare and Company, the onetime home of Thomas Paine, one of the first cafés of Paris...
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
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.
End point
Additional information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
