The 6th Arrondissement

Once a small market village centered around the historic abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, formerly a powerful ecclesiastical complex in the Middle Ages, it is now the oldest church in Paris. Its Romanesque bell tower is one of the characteristic landmarks of the neighborhood. Today the heart and soul of the 6th arrondissement, St-Germain-des-Prés is one of Paris’ most charming neighborhoods, just bursting with fine food shops, restaurants, markets and picturesque streets lined with cafés. Wander down the quiet and quaint side streets – this is Paris at its best!

Our luxury ParisPerfect apartments in the 6th arrondissement put you just steps from some of the best shopping streets in Paris, lined with a wonderful mix of antiques shops and chic fashion boutiques.

One of the enduring symbols of Paris is the lively café scene. Ever since Le Precope, the world’s first coffeehouse, opened its doors in 1686, countless artists, writers and eminent intellectuals have made the Left Bank cafés their regular haunts. St-Germain-des-Prés, long considered the literary heart and soul Paris, is home to Paris’ most illustrious cafés: Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore, Le Precope, Brasserie Lipp and Café Bonaparte. While you can stop by a café almost anywhere in Paris, it is hard to beat the great people watching and lively scene at Paris’ famous literary cafés.  Be prepared for some sticker shock even for a café’ au lait –  it’s why we prefer renting Paris apartments to eating out for every meal.

Our Favorite Restaurants & Cafés

• Le Bon Marche’:  38 rue de Sèvres
• La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marche:  behind the main store
• Les Deux Magots:  6 place St-Germain-des-Prés
• Café Flore 172, boulevard St-Germain
• Brasserie Lipp 151, boulevard St-Germain
• Le Procope 13, rue de l'Ancienne-Comédie
• Les Deux Magots 6, place St-Germain-des-Prés

Luxembourg Gardens

The Jardin du Luxembourg is a favorite garden oasis and rendezvous spot for Parisians and visitors alike. The beautiful and peaceful gardens are designed in the formal French style featuring broad avenues lined with precisely planted trees and trimmed hedges, immaculate lawns, statues, and fountains, including the ever popular octagonal pool full of toy sailboats. Rent one of the charming boats and join Parisian children (and adults!) in this enjoyable pastime.

Overlooking the Luxembourg gardens is the grand Palais du Luxembourg, built in the 17th century to remind its first owner Marie de Médicis, widow of Henri IV, of her native Florence, Italy. In the gardens you will also find her romantic Fontaine de Médicis, a shady and peaceful spot overlooking a pond filled with fish. Now home to the French Senate, tours of the Palais are by appointment only.

Latin Quarter

Nestled between the Seine and the Luxembourg Gardens, the Latin Quarter has been the center of learning in Paris for more than 700 years. Many of Paris’ most important writers, philosophers and artists walked these streets and attended the schools and universities nearby, including the Sorbonne.  A neighborhood associated with artists and intellectuals since the Middle Ages, the Latin Quarter still preserves its bohemian feel in its many bookstores, cafés, quirky boutiques, theaters, jazz clubs and bars.

Today the area is filled with inexpensive shops and ethnic restaurants, but just head off down the maze of cobbled medieval streets to discover the peaceful squares and gardens of the Latin Quarter.

Museums

The 6th arrondissement is home to some of Paris’ best small museums and the famous Musée National du Moyen-Âge – Thermes de Cluny dedicated to medieval arts.

Musée National du Moyen-Âge – Thermes de Cluny Musée de Cluny
Even if your tastes tend more toward Monet or Picasso, be sure to visit Paris’ remarkable National Museum of the Middle Ages. The collections span 15 centuries of Parisian history, all housed in the remains of Gallo-Roman baths from AD 200 and the Hôtel de Cluny, a masterpiece of the Flamboyant Gothic style that was once the mansion of the abbots of Cluny. Inside you’ll find the world’s finest collection of medieval arts and crafts.

Address:   Place Paul Painlevé, 75005 Paris
Website:  www.musee-moyenage.fr

Musée Delacroix
Located in the tiny place Furstemberg, one of Paris’ most romantic spots, the Musée Delacroix is dedicated to the work of France’s great Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix. The museum is located in the airy and cheerful first-floor apartment and garden studio where the artist lived and worked, and features regular exhibitions of his work.

Address:   6 Rue de Furstemberg, 75006 Paris
Website:   www.musee-delacroix.fr

Musée de la Monnaie
Built in 1777, the impressive Hôtel des Monnaies was built under Louis XV and was the home of the Mint until 1973. Today it houses the Musée de la Monnaie featuring a fine collection of coins and medallions presented in historical context along with tools and displays on the Mint’s production process.

Address:   11 Quai de Conti, Paris
Website:   www.monnaiedeparis.com

Musée Zadkine
This museum is dedicated to the works of the Russian-born sculptor Ossip Zadkine who immigrated to Paris in 1908. The Musée Zadkine is located in the former house, studio and charming daffodil-filled garden where the artist lived until his death in 1967. The collection spans the development of his style, from his beginning experimentation with the Cubist style to Expressionism and Abstractionism.

Address:  100 Bis Rue d'Assas, 75006 Paris
Website:   www.zadkine.paris.fr

La Fondation Dubuffet
Be sure to visit the La Fondation Dubuffet to see the personal collection of the 20th-century French artist Jean Dubuffet. The museum and gardens are one of the artistic treasures of the 6th arrondissement.

Address:   137 rue de Sèvres, 75006 Paris

A Gourmet's Delight

The 6th arrondissement is well-known for its many fine restaurants, food stores and cafés. Guests at our ParisPerfect apartments love that they can experience daily life as the Parisians do by shopping at the same local bakeries and patisseries, fruit and vegetable shops, butchers, cheese shops, and small supermarkets. One of the best food markets in the 6th takes place every day except Monday on the rue de Buci. Take a break during your shopping at one of the cafés lining the street, perfect for people watching and taking in a moment of daily life at one of Paris’ most vibrant markets.

A favorite gourmet store for locals and visitors is La Grande Epicerie de Paris.  This is behind Le Bon Marche department store and a regular haunt.  Enormous food hall, fantastic selection of gourmet delights.Here you can assemble the ultimate French picnic, or select the freshest ingredients of the day to prepare at your fully equipped and modern ParisPerfect kitchen.

A Shoppers' Paradise - Where Old Meets New

The intellectual atmosphere of the 6th arrondissement, epitomized by the café culture, is blending with a spotlight on high fashion in the St-Germain-des-Prés quartier. Start at Le Bon Marche on Place Sevres Babylon and wander through the winding old streets.  From fashion boutiques to beautiful home stores, you’ll be enthralled the window displays, the original designs and the fashion.

Walking along the Seine, explore the ramshackle green booths of the les bouquinistes selling prints and secondhand literary treasures, it’s easy to get lost in time. Continue south and explore the charming streets of St-Germain-des-Prés and you’ll find an eclectic array of antique shops and tiny art galleries right next to chic interior design shops and boutiques by top name fashion designers such as Giorgio Armani, Christian Lacroix Yves Saint Laurent and Sonia Rykiel.

Our Favorite Stores:

• Mephisto rue des Saints Pères at rue des Sèvres
• Sonia Rykiel 175, boulevard St-Germain
• Prada 5, rue de Grenelle
• Max Mara 37, rue de Four
• Ladurée 21, rue Bonaparte

Transportation

The 6th arrondissement is ideal for walking, whether you’re strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens, along the picturesque Seine or down the cobble-stoned streets of St-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter. Access to public transportation is easy in the 6th arrondissement.

Metro: Metro stations include Odeon, St. Germain, Solferino, Musee’ d’Orsay, rue du Bac and Sevres Babylone

Buses:  Hop on any of the buses that run along Blvd. St. Germain, rue de Grenelle to take you throughout Paris.

RER:  This is the ‘express train’ that runs from the Pont de l'Alma Metro along the Seine, straight to the Museé d’Orsay and Notre Dame. The trains going west head straight to Versailles.