The main attractions of the Latin Quarter in French. The Latin Quarter in Paris is the oldest student district. Bistros, cafes and restaurants

The history of the Latin Quarter begins in 1215, when the University of Paris, one of the oldest in Europe, was founded. A few years later, in 1257, the priest Robert de Sorbon opened a small college to teach students theology. In the first year, this educational institution accepted only 16 future theologians.

But gradually the number of students grew, and with it the glory of the new college. He was known for his long training period (10 years), high quality of preparation and very strict examination. Gaining more and more popularity from year to year, the Sorbonne united several other educational institutions and became the main university not only in Paris, but throughout France.

Over the course of several centuries, a whole quarter was formed around the educational buildings, which was called Latin, since in the Middle Ages Latin was the language of international communication. Today, in addition to the Sorbonne University, there are several other institutes and a lot of famous attractions.

At one time, the rector of the Sorbonne was Cardinal Richelieu himself, who made a significant contribution to the development of the university. Here, in the chapel of St. Ursula, he was buried.

Photos of the Latin Quarter in Paris today

How to get to the Latin Quarter

The historical center of student life is located on the left bank of the Seine, in the 5th and 6th arrondissements.

The exact address: Latin Quarter, 75005, Paris, France

Option 0

Metro: From the Austerlitz railway station, take line 10 to the Cluny - La Sorbonne station in about 10 minutes.

Train: From the North railway station, take the RER city train on line B to the Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame station for about 8 minutes.

Metro: From Ile de la Cité take line 4 to Saint-Sulpice station for about 10 minutes.

Bus: Bus routes 24, 47, 63, 86, 87, etc. pass through this area.

What to see

There are several popular routes around the Latin Quarter. You can start your journey from the Ile de la Cité by crossing the Au Double bridge to the other side of the Seine. Or you can be the first to visit the Pantheon, going further to the Sorbonne Square and the Luxembourg Gardens.

In any case, the walk should cover the main attractions:

• Sorbonne Square with the building of the same college, built back in the 13th century.

• Boulevard Saint-Michel with bookstores and a statue of Saint Michael.

• Cat-Fisherman street rue du Chat Qui Pêche is the narrowest and shortest street in Paris.

• The Museum of the Middle Ages in the building of the Cluny Hotel is rich in sculptures and manuscripts from the 12th and 13th centuries.

• The oldest tree in Paris in Viviani Square (false acacia Robinia).

• The Pantheon is a necropolis with the graves of great Frenchmen: Voltaire, Marie and Pierre Curie, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Rousseau and others.

• Medieval church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont with the relics of Saint Genevieve.

• Baroque church Église du Val-de-Grâce, built in the 17th century.

• Luxembourg Gardens and the beautiful Luxembourg Palace.

• The Théâtre de la Huchette theater on rue Huchette, where the same play has been performed every day for more than half a century (for which it was included in the Guinness Book of Records).

According to legend, on Kota Rybolov Street there once lived an alchemist priest with a black cat who knew how to catch fish. Superstitious students once killed both a cat and its owner, suspecting them of conspiring with the devil. For this they were executed, and after some time the tailed fisherman and the priest appeared again on the same street.

Sights of the Latin Quarter on the map

• Even though the Latin Quarter is one of the most famous places in Paris, you can eat inexpensively and deliciously here. Choose “Dishes of the Day”, they are always cheaper! Popular restaurants: Le Refuge du Passe with Auvergne cuisine, La Petit Legume with a vegetarian menu, Le Buisson Ardent, and if you want to find a cheaper lunch, the university cafe L’Ecrltolre, bistro Perraudin and Chez Rene will help.
• In terms of shopping, this is not the best place, although there are many souvenir shops (but overpriced). However, it is worth visiting the weekend fair near the Church of Saint-Severin - almost all sellers allow you to taste their products.
• The second-hand bookstore Shakespeare & Co. is open until late in the evening and even has sleeping accommodations for late-arriving customers. You can’t spend the night there, but it’s definitely worth a visit!
• In the legendary student district, housing is quite expensive, and it is better to choose a hotel elsewhere in Paris, and come here on an excursion - this can be done by metro (lines 4 and 10) or by RER (lines B and C).
• As for safety, the ancient Sorbonne is located almost in the heart of Paris - it can be noisy here, but there are no dangers for tourists (except for the usual pickpockets).

The Latin Quarter is one of the most interesting places for excursions, and such offers can be found in almost any travel agency in Paris. However, many people prefer to walk along it on their own, because this is the only way to leisurely see all the sights and enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the French capital. Since it is located in the center, from here you can go to any area of ​​the city - to the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, to the Eiffel Tower, to the Champs Elysees - by public transport you will need no more than 1 change.

Basic moments

The Latin Quarter is considered one of the city's brightest attractions, the most fun, bohemian and interesting area of ​​Paris. It is famous for its original buildings, narrow streets, parks, palaces, small cafes and bookstores. Within the quarter there are several of the most visited tourist sites - the Baths of Cluny, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Pantheon located on the top of the hill of Saint Genevieve.

Here is the oldest restaurant in the city, Le Procope, which was opened at the end of the 17th century (13 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie). During the Renaissance, it was a famous literary cafe where the bohemian elite liked to gather. Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, Balzac, George Sand, Hugo and other famous writers visited Prokop. The establishment is open daily from 11.30 to midnight.

On the streets of the Latin Quarter, cozy, stylishly decorated cafes line one after another, and near each one you can see the owner or employee greeting guests. They invite tourists passing by no worse than in a real Arab bazaar.

The establishments of the Latin Quarter boast excellent cuisine. Almost each of them has a menu of the day - “menu del jour”. This is a set lunch that includes an appetizer, a choice of first or second course, dessert and even a glass of wine. However, in some restaurants you need to order wine separately. Such a lunch costs quite a budget - from 10 to 15 euros. In addition, the popular fast food gyros is sold on every corner. This is a hearty Greek appetizer similar to shawarma.

How to get there

The Latin Quarter of Paris is located on the left bank of the Seine, within the 5th and 6th administrative quarters of the city. It is very convenient to get here by public transport. Charles de Gaulle Airport is a 40-minute metro ride and Orly Airport is a 30-minute metro ride.

You can get to the central part of the Latin Quarter by metro line 10 to the Cluny-la-Sorbonne station. In addition, the left bank of the Seine can be reached on foot from Notre Dame Cathedral. To do this, you just need to cross the river on any of the bridges.

The Latin Quarter in Paris is considered one of the most historical, lively and popular areas of the French capital. Schools, universities, libraries and museums have long been located here.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until September 30:

• AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
• AFTA2000Guru - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Thailand from 100,000 rubles.

You will also find many profitable offers from all tour operators on the website tours.guruturizma.ru. Compare, choose and book tours at the best prices!

Medieval Paris was the cultural and intellectual capital of Western Europe. The city, which reached unprecedented prosperity, attracted scientists, philosophers and artists. The scientific thought of France was concentrated here. Since the 11th century, young people seeking higher education were given this opportunity in church schools.

Initially, teaching took place on the Isle of Cité. Students and teachers were always short of money. Housing on the left bank of the Seine was much cheaper than in the central district of Paris. Therefore, new colleges began to open on the slopes of St. Genevieve's Hill, where they studied theology, medicine, painting and philosophy. Education was conducted in Latin, which is why the area got its name - the Latin Quarter.

Attractions

Today, the “student town” attracts tourists with its narrow and cobbled streets, along which interesting sights are located. This is the main university of France, the tomb of historical figures, a medieval museum, a Gothic chapel, ancient monuments, as well as numerous shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sorbonne

The most famous and largest educational institution in France is the Sorbonne University. This is a complex of high school buildings scattered throughout Paris. The main buildings are located in the Latin Quarter.

In 1257, the clergyman Robert de Sorbon, who was the spiritual mentor of King Louis IX, founded a college for the study of theology for poor people. The educational institution became popular among young people throughout the country and soon transformed into a university named Sorbonne. It was famous for its teachers, who formed the intellectual elite of the state. The institution accepted students from families of different social classes.

In 1625, Cardinal Richelieu initiated the reconstruction of the university buildings. Among the educational buildings a baroque chapel with four bell towers arose. Its facade with an elegant dome was decorated with columns and sculptures.

The external and internal decoration of the main building of the Sorbonne corresponds to the university atmosphere. The façade of the building is decorated with figures symbolizing science. Lecture auditoriums and lobbies are decorated with picturesque panels describing scenes from student life.

Place Saint Michel

Around the Sorbonne University there is a small and crowded Place Saint-Michel, named after the Archangel Michael. Framed on all sides by shops, cafes and bookstores, the area has become a haven for the cultural elite of Paris. Students like to gather here after classes and spend their free time.

The pearl of the square is a monumental baroque fountain, originally built into the end of the house, the facade of which is decorated with red columns, an ornate attic with bas-reliefs and sculptures. The central figure of the fountain is the statue of St. Michael slaying the devil with a sword. At the foot of the composition there are griffins spewing endless streams of pure water into the pool.

Boulevard Saint-Michel

The main artery of the Latin Quarter is Boulevard Saint-Michel, which stretches for one and a half kilometers. This is a favorite place for Parisians and city guests. The ancient houses, built in the mid-19th century, and the cobbled streets are filled with romance. There are numerous shops, boutiques, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, cinemas and nightclubs.

Church of Saint-Severin

Surrounded by the narrow medieval streets of the Latin Quarter, you can see the austere Church of Saint-Severin, named after the patron saint of travelers, Saint Severin. This Gothic structure, built in the 15th century, was the first parish basilica on the left bank of the Seine.

The church is a disproportionate building with five naves. Its width prevails over its length. The exterior of the basilica is distinguished by wide arched windows, flying buttresses, portals, a high spire, decorative turrets (pinnacles) and protruding ribs. The center of the façade is decorated with a semi-rosette consisting of ornate petals reminiscent of flames.

The interior of the church is especially impressive. The walls of the hall are framed by an arcade, and the ceiling is decorated with a ribbed vault. Behind the altar there are spirally twisted columns, visually similar to palm trees. The main decoration of the temple are stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes.

Fishing cat street

The narrowest and shortest street in Paris is located in the Latin Quarter. Its width is 1.8 meters and its length is 26 meters. It goes out to the Seine embankment. The street is famous for its legend. In the 15th century, the clergyman Father Perle lived here with his black cat. The animal was amazingly deft at catching fish in the Seine. The priest was actively involved in alchemy, which was equated to witchcraft.

Three Sorbonne students, convinced that man and cat were one, killed the animal. After this, the priest also disappeared. The young men were sentenced to hang for the murder of the canon. Three days later, Perle and the cat appeared, continuing to calmly go about their business.

Pantheon

The famous architectural structure, which is the best example of the ancient style, rises majestically over the entire Latin Quarter. This is the Pantheon. In the 18th century, on the initiative of King Louis XV, a temple was erected in honor of Saint Genevieve. After the revolution, the basilica was turned into a mausoleum of the great Frenchmen.

The monumental structure, which is 110 meters long and 83 meters high, has a cruciform plan. The temple is crowned with a massive dome mounted on a drum, which is framed by Corinthian columns. The staircase in front of the entrance leads to the Pantheon through a portico with 22 columns supporting a pediment decorated with bas-reliefs.

The interior of the temple is replete with luxurious picturesque panels and sculptural compositions based on historical motifs. Under the church there is a crypt containing the ashes of many famous people: Dumas, Voltaire, Hugo, Rousseau, Curie.

Arenas of Lutetia

The Romans, having conquered the Celtic tribe of Parisians and founded the city of Lutetia, left their historical mark on the appearance of Paris. The only surviving ruins from this era are located in the Latin Quarter. It is a semicircular amphitheater with a capacity of 15,000 spectators, dating back to the 1st century AD. It was discovered under a layer of earth in 1869, when pavement work was being carried out.

Today, only a third of the arena is truly Roman. The area was intended for circus and acting performances, and today is used by Parisians as an active recreation area.

Cluny Museum

In the old mansion, built on the site of the Roman baths in the 15th century for the Abbey of Cluny, there is a museum of the Middle Ages. Here you can see many unique exhibits: tapestries, manuscripts, a collection of stained glass windows, armor of knights, wooden sculptures, jewelry, household items and much more.

The main decoration is the hall with the tapestry “The Lady with the Unicorn” - a masterpiece of medieval weaving. The museum building is also of interest. Its courtyard amazes with its skillful stone carvings.

Luxembourg Gardens

Among the Parisian streets filled with human bustle, there are oases of silence and bliss. One of these places is the Luxembourg Gardens, founded in 1612 on the initiative of Marie de Medici (wife of King Henry IV).

The spacious garden area contains shady alleys, flower beds, flowers, sculptures, statues of French queens, a pond, fountains, and playgrounds. Parisians love to relax and play sports here. If you wish, you can sit on the chairs scattered around the park, or have a picnic on the lawn.

The shops

The Latin Quarter is full of various shops. The best products are brought here from all over France: cheeses, wine, fruits, sweets. There are fairs on the Boulevard Saint-Michel on weekends. In addition to grocery stores, there are also souvenir shops, bookstores, jewelry, flower shops, perfume shops and boutiques. The abundance of sellers and buyers has long been one of the characteristic features of the Latin Quarter.

Cafes and restaurants

The Latin Quarter is famous for its cozy cafes and restaurants, the interiors of which are made in their original style. This is where you can feel the real spirit of Paris with its good cuisine and charm. Every visitor to the area will find an establishment to suit his gastronomic taste - from vegetarian food to exquisite seafood delicacies.

Which hotel to choose

Many of the quarter's medieval houses have now been converted into hotels. Comfortable rooms decorated in soft colors with old-fashioned furniture and interiors add sophistication to the colorful atmosphere of the medieval area. Here you can find inexpensive hostels and hotels with luxury apartments.

Where is it and how to get there

The Latin Quarter is located on the left bank of the Seine, within walking distance of the main attractions of Paris. You can get here by metro (Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame, La Sorbonne stations) or by buses No. 21, No. 24, No. 27, No. 63, No. 89.

The Latin Quarter is the oldest student district that grew up around the University of Paris. This area is characterized by a special atmosphere - cozy narrow streets filled with shops and cafes, as well as numerous other attractions, the central one of which is the Sorbonne.

A little history

In February 1988, the only three-way station in Paris called Cluny-Sorbonne was opened in the center of the quarter, which had been closed since 1939. This event created a real sensation: Parisians saw a real work of art that was fashionable at that time. The rather extensive vault of the station was 75 m long and 18 m wide. Its decoration was a mosaic image of two giant birds and two symbolic flames of blue and red. The author of this mosaic is an abstract artist named Jean Bazin.

In addition, on the metro vault he decided to reproduce 54 signatures of all those famous people who lived in the Latin Quarter at different times. Among them are the signatures of kings Philip Augustus and Henry IV, Soufflot, Champollion, Baudelaire, Racine, Moliere, etc. The design and color scheme of the decor were also unusual: the rails were painted blue and yellow, the name of the station was distinguished by an orange inscription on a white background. There were also benches made of gray granite, which were 45 cm wide, which Parisians called “the joy of clochards” (or, translated into Russian, simply homeless people).

Also interesting is the fact that Jean Bazin himself categorically resisted the installation of tubes, common in the metro, at stations - small televisions that displayed an information and advertising program. As he argued, the atmosphere of every new metro station should encourage people to think.

This quarter received its name not by chance. The thing is that in the Middle Ages it was Latin that was the most common language of communication, and the same language was taught in all universities. Knowledge of Latin for students and teachers, as well as for people from different countries, has become a necessity, otherwise they would not understand each other as a result. It was in honor of this linguistic feature that the quarter began to be called “Latin”.

Sights of the Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is replete with attractions, including the narrowest street in Paris, the Museum of the Middle Ages and much more, which you can learn about from the material below.

• (45.00 €)
• (35.00 €)
• (35.00 €)
• (185.00 €)
• (50.00 €)

Boulevard Saint-Michel

The central street of the quarter is a holiday for any second-hand book dealer. The boulevard is a complete bookstore.

A huge variety of unique volumes can be purchased right in the open air, and the peculiar traders and colorful buyers with whom you can engage in scientific debate on academic topics are in themselves an attraction and a symbol of the Latin Quarter.

The narrowest street in Paris - rue Chat-qui-Peche

Turning off Boulevard Saint Michel, you can find yourself on colorful medieval streets, the narrowest of which is Chat-qui-Peche (fishing cat street).

It was named after the cat, famous for the fact that in difficult times he “fed” his owners with fish that he caught from the Seine. The width of this street is only 170 cm.

Theater on Rue Huchette - Théâtre de la Huchette

Rue Huchette runs parallel to Chat-qui-Peche. There is a theater on it that is included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Here, for 57 years, almost every evening the performance “The Bald Singer” based on the play by the famous French absurdist Eugene Ionesco takes place. Of course, this is not the only play in the theater's repertoire, and in later hours you can enjoy other performances.

— Musée national du Moyen Âge

The Museum of the Middle Ages - the baths and mansion of Cluny, is better known among the people as the Cluny Museum.

Household items and works of art created in the medieval era are stored here. The most interesting and impressive exhibits of the museum are the heads of the kings of Judea (the statues of Notre Dame Cathedral beheaded by order of Robespierre). Part of the exhibition is the ruins of the ancient Roman baths of the 3rd century, on the site of which the Cluny monastery was built.

—Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the main attractions of Paris. The beginning of its construction dates back to the middle of the 18th century, when it was conceived by Louis XV as the Church of St. Genevieve.

Later, the building, erected in the image of the Roman pantheon, became the burial place of prominent Frenchmen. Voltaire, Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, Pierre and Marie Curie, and many others are buried here. “The Fatherland is grateful to great people” is the inscription above the entrance of the Pantheon that greets visitors.

— Sorbonne

Currently, the University of Paris has a large number of buildings, its faculties are located in different areas of the city.

But here, in the Latin Quarter, stands the original Sorbonne, built in the 13th century. The most famous European university began as a theological college founded by Abbot Sorbonne. In the university church there is the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu, who was rector here for a long time. Sorbonne Square is the most popular place for student gatherings and parties, where youth life is constantly in full swing.

Paris Cathedral Mosque – Grande Mosquee de Paris

This is the largest Islamic religious building in France, covering an area of ​​almost a hectare.

It was founded in the first half of the twentieth century, after World War I, in memory of the Muslims who fought in the ranks of the French army. A typical example of the Art Nouveau style, the building is stylized as a Moorish mosque. The height of its minaret is 33 meters.

Church of Val-de-Grâce – Église du Val-de-Grâce

The Val-de-Grâce church is considered the best example of Baroque church building in Paris.

It was founded in the 17th century by order of Anne of Austria, on the occasion of the birth of her first-born, the future King Louis XIV. On the south side of the temple there is a Benedictine monastery, which the French Revolution turned into a military hospital, which it still is.

Cafes and restaurants

Each establishment in the Latin Quarter has its own regular audience and its own culinary and cultural characteristics. If you are interested in literary discussions, visit Brasserie Balzar. Lovers of classic medieval cuisine can taste rooster in wine by visiting the Chez Rene bistro. The Coco de Meu restaurant offers its visitors fresh fish, which is delivered to its kitchen every day directly from the Seychelles. In the cafe de la Mosquee, located next to the Paris Cathedral Mosque, you can not only taste Arabic cuisine, but also visit the Turkish hammam.

Real estate in the Latin Quarter

Due to the particularly high popularity of this quarter, real estate in this area has become very expensive. As surprising as it may be, not every modern student can now rent housing in a student quarter.

How to get there

), and this time I want to offer my own version of a walk through the Latin Quarter. The main attractions of this quarter are well known to everyone; all that remains is to combine them into a convenient route.
The starting point is Place Saint-Michel, which is a 5-minute walk from Notre Dame, on the left bank of the Seine.

The main attraction of the square is the Saint-Michel fountain, built here on the instructions of the great city reformer Baron Haussmann in 1858-1860. Architect Gabriel Davioud was faced with the controversial task of decorating the square with a fountain, and at the same time preserving as much free space as possible. He coped with this task brilliantly, placing the fountain on the wall of a building at the junction of the boulevards Saint-Michel and Saint-André-des-Arts.

Initially, the central statue of the fountain was supposed to be the statue of Peace, then Napoleon Bonaparte, but after fierce disputes, the statue of the Archangel Michael trampling on the dragon was eventually installed. To be fair, it should be noted that in addition to Daviu, a whole group of sculptors participated in the creation of the fountain. The figure of St. Michael and the dragon was made by Francis Joseph Duret, and the remaining figures were made by eight other lesser-known sculptors. The framing columns are crowned with statues symbolizing the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Strength, Justice and Temperance.
The square is very popular among young people, especially among lovers who like to have dates here.

Now about our route, more precisely about its first part, of which there will be three in total..

Rue de la Huchette.

From Place Saint-Michel we go to Rue Huchette. You won't have to look for it for long, because... it is located literally across the road from the square (if you stand with your back to the fountain, it will be on your right). This is a narrow street that runs parallel to the Seine.

We keep to the left (another street goes to the right).

Rue Huchette appeared here at the same time as the beginning of the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral, i.e. more than 800 years ago. In the Middle Ages, the name Yuchet was given to an entire quarter, consisting of a labyrinth of narrow, crooked streets, on which it was life-threatening to appear at night.
Today Rue Huchet is packed with crowds of tourists. There are cafes, Greek restaurants, all kinds of shops and souvenir varnishes at every step. There is even a small theater here with the same name - "Yuchet".

2. Cat-Fisherman Street (Rue de Chat Qui Pêche).

Having walked 150 meters along Yushet Street, we begin to actively look to the left (in the good sense of the word), in search of a side street called Kota-Rybolova Street. This street is considered one of the narrowest streets in Paris, and has been preserved since the Middle Ages. Rue Cota-Rybolova connects the Seine embankment with Rue Huchette.

This is what this street looks like from the Seine embankment. In the narrowest place, you can touch both of its walls with your hands if your height is about 180 cm, and the span of your arms matches your height. In French, the name of the street Kota-Rybolova sounds very melodic - Rue du Cha-qui-pech.

Several legends are associated with the history of the origin of the name of this street. They tell about a cat who knew how to fish in the Seine and brought it to his owner. And if you believe the Hungarian writer Jolana Foldes, then the owner of the cat was the canon of the Cathedral of Saint-Severin, Father Perle, who sold his soul to the devil, and was engaged in alchemy. No one had ever seen the cat and the owner together, and there were rumors that the cat was the priest. The end of this dark story was decided by three students of Sarbona, who waylaid the cat and drowned him in the Seine. The priest also disappeared along with the cat, after which the students were accused of killing him and were soon hanged. But a few days later, Father Perle, as if nothing had happened, reappeared on the street, and explained his absence that he was leaving on business. The black cat also returned and, as before, continued to carry fish from the Seine.

Before the war, the legendary bookstore of Sylvia Beach bore this name, which in 1964 transferred the rights to use this name to the owner of this store, George Whitman. Whitman collected books bit by bit - in markets, from private individuals, bought the library of Simone de Beauvoir after her death and eventually collected a wonderful collection of old, rare books.
By restoring the old title, George continued Sylvia's tradition of helping unknown writers. He placed armchairs and sofas in the store so that young talented but needy prose writers could work and even spend the night there. The cozy store became the main meeting place for the creative intelligentsia of the 60-70s.

4. Square René Viviani (French: Square René Viviani-Montebello).

Right behind the bookstore there is a cozy Viviani square. The square is interesting in itself as a place of relaxation, and it also offers wonderful views of the southern façade of Notre Dame Cathedral, which photographers love so much.

The square is named after former French Prime Minister René Viviani (1863-1925), and opened to the public in 1928.
In the center of the square there is a fountain named after the canonized bishop of the city of Le Mans, who distributed all his money to the people and received the nickname Julian the Poor. Saint poor Julian in French is Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre or Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. The fountain was built by Georges Jeanclos, a professor at the National School of Fine Arts, in 1959. , in addition to sculptural fragments, contains many biblical texts.

In all guidebooks, Viviani Square is also mentioned as the place where the oldest tree in Paris grows, planted back in 1601. It is called false acacia, or Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia), in honor of the botanist Robin. To prevent the tree from falling, it is supported by a concrete slab. The statement that this tree is the oldest is quite controversial, because in the Botanical Garden of Paris there is an acacia that is not inferior in age.
It is also interesting that it is this Robinia that attracts all kinds of magicians, sorcerers and other adherents of inexact sciences. They claim that this tree was once cursed by a witch who was dragged past it to the fire, and since then, in any thunderstorm, lightning is sure to strike it, and the tree itself has an exceptional property - touching it, especially on the day of the summer solstice, gives strongest energy.

The witch’s spell has spread to the neighboring trees, so you can feed on energy from them too..

5. Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre (Eglise Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre).

The main attraction of this square is the Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre (Eglise Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre), named, as you might guess from the name, in honor of the same Julian the poor. This is one of the oldest churches in the city. In its place there once stood a chapel, then there was an abbey that survived more than one Norman raid and more than one student revolt, but did not survive the French Revolution. The church we see now was built around the same time as Notre Dame Cathedral, from 1165 to 1220. After the emergence of the university, it became the parish church of the Sorbonne: university meetings were held here. After students, dissatisfied with the results of the rectorate elections, destroyed the church in 1524, the monks demanded that student meetings in the abbey be cancelled. By the 17th century the church had to literally be rebuilt; then it acquired its current façade. During the French Revolution, the abbey was destroyed and the church was converted into a warehouse. Services there were resumed only a century later, in 1889.

6. Half-timbered facade.

Next to the church is one of the few remaining half-timbered houses in the city. One of its windows is decorated with a medieval wooden figurine.

At the end of the street there is a building in which once, due to lack of space in the old Sorbonne, professors gave lectures at home.

7. Church of Saint-Severin (Eglise Saint-Severin).

Having walked a little from the Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre to the end of the street, we turn right, and on the opposite side of the Rue Saint-Jacques we will see another one of the oldest churches in Paris - the Church of Saint-Severin ). In many sources in Russian transcription it is written as Saint-SeverEn, so I can’t vouch for the correct spelling. But I know for sure that the saint in whose honor this church is named was called Severin. When Saint Severin died, a chapel was erected over his grave. which was destroyed, completed and rebuilt many times. After almost ten centuries of continuous construction, the church acquired its current appearance.
The main façade of the building is decorated with a portal moved from the Church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Boeufs, destroyed in the 13th century, and stained glass windows from the Middle Ages have been preserved on the windows. The bell tower of Ser-Severin houses the oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1412.

In Paris, the Church of Saint-Severin is considered the most striking example of “flaming Gothic”. The name “flaming Gothic” appeared due to the similarity of the shape of the openwork ornament with tongues of flame.

If you decide to go inside the church, be sure to pay attention to the columns supporting the vault, especially those in the far part of the temple. Their bizarre shape makes them look like giant palm trees.

We go around the Saint-Severin church and continue moving straight...

continued in the next part..