Latin Quarter

What makes it special

The quarter takes its name from its medieval schools, where lessons were taught in Latin. The Sorbonne still stands at its centre, and the streets climb toward the Panthéon on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.

The Musée de Cluny stands on 1st-century Roman baths, the most important Roman remains in Paris, beneath a 13th-century abbots' townhouse with a vaulted chapel. Its best-known treasure is The Lady and the Unicorn, a set of six 15th-century tapestries.

At Saint-Séverin, walk round behind the altar. The pillars there branch out across the ceiling like palm trees, and one of them is twisted. Look up first, then at the 1970 stained glass in the old windows.

Inside the Panthéon, Foucault's pendulum swings from the dome on a 67-metre steel wire. Below the nave, the crypt holds the tombs of the figures the nation has chosen to honour.

Rue Mouffetard ends the climb with a street market of food stalls, known locally as la Mouffe. Time the walk so that you reach it while the stalls are still out.

Visiting

This walk starts at Shakespeare and Company, by Saint-Michel metro, and turns inland to Saint-Séverin first. The whole route to the Jardin des Plantes takes about an hour without stops.

Go to the Musée de Cluny next, by Cluny-La Sorbonne station. The tapestries hang near the end of the route, so leave time for them rather than rushing the earlier rooms.

Pass the Sorbonne and climb to the Panthéon. Go in for the pendulum and the crypt if you have a ticket, then continue to rue Mouffetard for the market. Finish in the Jardin des Plantes, which is free to enter.

Guided or on your own

The streets need no guide, and the walk is easy to follow on your own. A guide matters only inside a few buildings.

The Sorbonne's historic palace opens through guided tours that need a reservation, so plan this ahead if you want to go inside. At the Musée de Cluny, a guided tour on reservation takes you down into the underground galleries where the bathhouse staff worked. The Panthéon runs a free guided visit at 2pm and/or 3pm, subject to availability, with no reservation beyond your entrance ticket.

Tips

Saturday tends to be the market's busiest day on rue Mouffetard, so come early if you want room at the stalls.

In the Musée de Cluny you can take photographs without flash in the permanent collection, though temporary shows may not allow it. At the Panthéon, bring only a standard backpack, as there is no cloakroom or luggage locker. Last entry there is 45 minutes before closing.