General Information

The 5th arrondissement is one of the oldest areas in Paris – it bears several traces of Roman colonisation. It is also associated with the cultural diversity of the Left Bank, particularly the Latin Quarter. It is divided into quarters: Quartier Saint-Victor, Quartier du Jardin-des-Plantes, Quartier du Val-de-Grâce, Quartier de la Sorbonne.

Street Spirit

Take a walk in the Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissement and enjoy the vibrant, intellectual, lively atmosphere. When you picture Parisian streets and scenery, you probably imagine something along the lines of the 5th arrondissement.

History: Highlights

The 5th arrondissement dates back to Roman times, which is attested to by such sites as the Arènes de Lutèce (an amphitheatre) and the Thermes de Cluny (thermae). Since the Middle Ages intellectual activity and university life have ruled in the Latin Quarter, which owes its name to Latin that was spoken by students of the Sorbonne.

Quartier Saint-Victor

The seventeenth quarter of Paris houses the famous Roman amphitheatre, Arènes de Lutèce. The quarter’s name reminds of the old suburb – Faubourg Saint-Victor.

Quartier du Jardin-des-Plantes

Aptly named after the main botanical garden in France, Jardin des Plantes, the eighteenth quarter is the perfect place to take a relaxing walk, admiring both natural phenomena and the beauty of historic monuments.

Quartier du Val-de-Grâce

The nineteenth quarter is named after Val-de-Grâce, the famous hospital and its church, whose history goes way back into the 17th century.

Quartier de la Sorbonne

The twentieth quarter contains prestigious schools, universities and educational institutions, including the Sorbonne: the edifice which used to house the famous University of Paris.