The Latin Quarter, a Self-Guided Paris Walk
2h15. 1.6 miles. From Panthéon to Jardin des Plantes.
The student quarter, named for the Latin once spoken in its universities. A giant domed monument to great minds, the oldest street in Paris, a Roman arena hidden behind apartments, and a botanical garden to finish.
The local move
Go find the Arenes de Lutece. It's a Roman amphitheater tucked behind a plain doorway, and half the people who live nearby don't even know it's there. Locals play boules on the old arena floor.
Best time to go
Any time; the market street of rue Mouffetard is best mid-morning.
When to avoid it
Mondays, when rue Mouffetard's market stalls are quietest.
The stops
Panthéon
A vast neoclassical monument where France buries its heroes: Voltaire, Rousseau, Curie, Hugo.
Tip: Climb to the dome colonnade for a fine rooftop view, and go down to the crypt. Foucault's pendulum swings under the dome.
Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
A church beside the Pantheon with the only surviving rood screen in Paris, a delicate stone bridge across the nave.
Tip: Free and quietly spectacular. The stairs outside featured in Midnight in Paris.
Rue Mouffetard
One of the oldest streets in Paris, sloping and cobbled, lined with a food market, cheese shops and cheap eats.
Tip: Walk down, not up, and graze as you go. The bottom widens into a little square with cafes.
Place de la Contrescarpe
A small tree-shaded square at the top of Mouffetard, ringed with cafes, a Hemingway haunt.
Tip: A good coffee stop with people-watching. Hemingway lived just around the corner.
Arènes de Lutèce
A Roman amphitheater from the 1st century, hidden behind apartment blocks, now a quiet park.
Tip: The secret star of the walk. Enter from rue Monge; locals play boules where gladiators once fought.
Grande Mosquée de Paris
A serene 1920s mosque with a tiled courtyard, a garden, and a famous tearoom.
Tip: Have a mint tea and a honey pastry in the courtyard cafe. Open to all, a genuine hidden oasis.
Jardin des Plantes
The city's botanical garden, with greenhouses, a small zoo, and the natural history museum.
Tip: A calm green finish. The evolution gallery inside is a hit with kids if you have energy left.
About these walks
This is one of the free self-guided Paris walks written by the Chic Trip team, locals who plan and book full Paris trips for American travelers. Get our free insider Paris guide at chic-trip.com/free-paris-guide, or have us plan your whole trip at chic-trip.com/paris-travel-planner.
