Why Staying In Saint Germain Is A Good Idea When In Paris
Today we share why staying in Saint Germain is a good idea on your next visit to Paris. The 6th arrondissement or Saint Germain area in Paris is famously known for its glamour and style. It’s a beautiful place with a perfect mix of wide boulevards and beguiling side streets, classic Parisian bistros and fantastic French stores, elegant Haussmannian architecture and bold green gardens.
Decorating and design stores, bookstores, florists, fashion boutiques and iconic sidewalk cafes like Café Deux Magots beguile and appeal the tourist and local alike. The area is also home to the quirky Deyrolle with its tigers, peacocks and insects.
The 6th is the heartland of Paris publishing, and the spiritual home for more than a few of the world’s best writers. It’s also full of antiquarian book and print dealers so honestly, I could never spend too much time in this area. If you love books too, you will love this area and the famous English bookstore Shakespeare and Company.
Iconic Parisian sights in this area include Café de Flore, Les Deux Margots, Saint Sulpice church, St-Germain-des-Prés church, Picasso’s sculpture Apollaire, Deyrolle, the Mint and the Luxembourg Gardens. It’s also home to the Pantheon where notable men and women such as Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas, Josephine Baker, Voltaire and Victor Hugo are interred.
St-Germain-des-Prés
St-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest church in Paris, originating in 542 when King Childebert built a basilica to house holy relics. Most of the present church dates from about the 11th century and it was heavily restored in the 19th century. Only one of the original three towers have survived and it houses one of the oldest belfries in Paris.
Cafe de Flore
Cafe de Flore boasts a beautiful red, mahogany and mirrored Art Deco interior and in the post war years (1950’s) was the spot were most French intellectuals met and debated the new philosophy.
Jean-Paul Sarte and Simone de Beauvoir developed their philosophy of existentialism whilst at this cafe. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire was also a regular at Cafe de Flore.
Les Deux Magots
Les Deux Magots is well known for its literary connections. It was the meeting place of Surrealist artists and writers including Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s and 1930s, and existentialist philosophers and writers in the 1950s.
Musée de la Monnaie
Musée de la Monnaie was built by Louis XV to rehouse the Mint and was completed in 1777. Coins were minted here until 1973 when the process was moved to Pessac in the Gironde. The minting and milling halls now hold the coin and medallion museum.
The workshops now create medallions, which are also sold in the museum shop. Monnaie de Paris is an interesting site to have a look around.
Picasso’s Sculpture ‘Homage to Apollinaire’
Picasso’s sculpture ‘Homage to Apollinaire’ is in Square Laurent Prache, located across the street from Cafe Les Deux Magots. Picasso created this sculpture as a tribute to his friend, the poet, Guillaume Apollinaire, who was a regular at the Café de Flore (which is only one street away from both Square Laurent Prache and Cafe Les Deux Magots).
Brasserie Lipp
Brasserie Lipp was started by a refugee from Alsace and it serves Alsatian beer, sauerkraut, sausages and coffee. Originally opened in the late 19th century, it is famous for being the haunt of French politicians and fashion gurus and is thought by many to be the quintessential Parisian brasserie.
The bright interior with ceramic tiles of parrots and cranes is what draws many tourists to this Brasserie now. Check out more on the Brasserie Lipp website.
Ladurée
Ladurée the ornate tea salon or sweet wonderland, has a store located at 34 rue Jacob, 75006 Paris, Ladurée Bonaparte Restaurant. Ladurée salons are known for their decadent interiors and irresistible sweets and definitely transport you to an earlier time.
Just imagine you are Marie-Antoinette in all your finery and you will feel right at home! A prettily packaged box of macarons is a must when you visit Paris. Click for more on the decadent stores of Ladurée.
With so much to enjoy in this charming area of Paris, I’m sure you’ll enjoy staying in Saint Germain when you’re next in Paris.
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