Hello and welcome for another video tour of a fantastic
Paris neighborhood by
New York Habitat (
http://www.nyhabitat.com ). In today's video tour we're going to explore one of the liveliest and most popular areas of Paris, the
Latin Quarter.
Also, feel free to watch other great video tours of Paris neighborhoods ( http://www.youtube.com/user/NewYorkHabitat?feature=mhee#p/c/D57FBD5017C49B3B ), such as
Oberkampf ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGp3-qXWI6w ) or L'
Ile Saint-Louis ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWpOtKAjgX0 ).
There is so much to see in this area, this will be the 1st episode of a three-part series dedicated to the Latin Quarter.
Located on the
Left Bank of the
Seine River in Paris, where the
Roman city of
Lutetia once stood, the Latin Quarter stretches from the river to the top of
Mount St. Genevieve, a hill named for the city's patron saint.
History
The name Latin Quarter goes back to the
Middle Ages, when this was the haunt of students and their teachers. The university started as a school attached to the cathedral. Teaching took place outdoors, under the arcades of the cathedral cloisters
. In the 12th century, many people moved to the Left Bank, and soon after, colleges were founded, including the
Sorbonne, which began in 1257.
So, why is it called the Latin Quarter? Well, it comes from the fact that
Latin was spoken here, not only in the universities and colleges which taught in Latin until the 1700s, but also in the streets. In the early days, students flocked here from all over the world and they communicated in Latin here, in the area where they lived and studied.
The Latin Quarter is still the haunt of students. But many others come to stroll through its tiny streets, eat in its restaurants, people-watch and enjoy the cinemas and jazz clubs.
Saint-Michel
The Saint-Michel fountain is a popular meeting place amongst everyone in this area of Paris. Stretching out in front of the fountain is one of the boulevards constructed by Haussmann in the
1860s as part of
Napoleon III's project to rebuild Paris. This is the boulevard Saint-Michel.
The fountain with
Saint Michael killing the dragon was designed to give a beautiful finish to the boulevard.
Tiny streets of the Latin Quarter (
Rue de la Harpe/
Rue de la Huchette/Rue
Xavier Privas)
Across the street and around the corner, you'll find a taste of the old Latin Quarter. This area still has its narrow medieval streets, identifiable by the gutter running down the middle of the street.
Once filled with medieval students and teachers, craftsmen, merchants, and knights of the royal guard, these streets are as bustling as ever. They are now home to many picturesque multi-ethnic restaurants.
Latin Quarter
Apartments
It's difficult to enjoy your morning coffee and a vintage book from the Latin Quarter in a boring hotel room. For an authentic Latin Quarter experience, make sure you book a furnished apartment in the Latin Quarter or a Latin Quarter vacation rental for your next trip.
Take a look at this furnished studio apartment located in the
6th arrondissement of Paris ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/furnished/22 ), which is also equipped with a washing machine and of course a fully equipped kitchen. With nice views and a lot of light, this apartment is a perfect place to call home during your time in Paris, located just off of
Boulevard Saint-Michel.
Finally we might suggest this furnished 2-bedroom, 1 and half bathroom Paris apartment ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/furnished/1759 ), which is situated on the 5th floor of a 7-story elevator building. One bedroom is furnished with a double bed and one with a single bed. The living room is furnished with a double sized sofa bed for extra sleeping accommodations. The rental also includes a dining area, as well as a balcony, perfect for a satisfying stay in the Latin Quarter of Paris.
Remember that New York Habitat offers hundreds of apartments for rent in Paris, including furnished apartments ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/furnished ) and vacation rentals ( http://www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment/vacation ).
Also, be sure to check out our blog, if you want to learn more about Latin Quarter : http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/
2011/09/22/paris-neighborhood-video-tour-latin-quarter-part-1/
We have covered a lot of ground today in the Latin Quarter here in Paris. If we missed any of your favorite spots, be sure to share them in the comments section below.
We hope to see you soon in the Latin Quarter. As they say in Latin, bonum cursum, or in
French, bon voyage!
Continue watching with Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyLtR6A3XNc) and
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w17QFGbWIdA) of our
Video Tour.
- published: 20 Sep 2011
- views: 16175