Walk in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés

Next step: Place Furstemberg 

A street lamp. Trees. Beautiful buildings frame a shaded little square. 

Welcome to one of the most magical squares in Paris! The achingly idyllic and pretty Place Furstemberg is an endless source of inspiration for artists, including Eugène Delacroix who opened his studio here at number 6. It was also his last home and is now a national museum devoted to his work.

Let’s cross Rue Bourbon le Château and the lively Rue de Buci. Can you hear lines from The Imaginary Cuckold, Scapin the Schemer or The Miser? Well, Molière, alias Jean-Baptiste Poquelin lived on this very street! Whilst we’re on the subject, why did actors have to have an alias? Let’s find out on the tour!

Next step: Le Procope

Let’s hit Rue de L’Ancienne Comédie to reach Cour du Commerce Saint André, one of the oldest streets in Paris. It’s home to Le Procope, a famous restaurant founded in 1686 by Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli from Palermo. The young Sicilian took over the restaurant and gave it an opulent renovation to attract rich Parisian patrons. It became a go-to among famous 18th century philosophers and authors: Diderot, Voltaire, Montesquieu and d’Alembert met up here to put the world to rights. Le Procope was the heart of the action during the French Revolution before Musset and Verlaine came here to write poetry a few decades later…

Next step: L’Odéon

Our next stop is L’Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, the first Italian theatre in Paris, founded in 1782. Marie-Antoinette herself inaugurated it and it became the new home for the Comédie Française. About that, why do you not wear green on stage? Why are the dancers’ dresses shortened? Why do the French say “merde” for “break a leg”? Join your guide to find out!

Last step: Eglise Saint Sulpice

After a walk past Rue Tournon and President Jacques Chirac’s last home, the tour ends at Eglise Saint Sulpice, the second biggest religious building in Paris. It oozes mystery and set the scene for Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code! A gnomon grabs your attention as soon as you set sight on the church: the astronomical tool works like a sundial to tell us the date of equinoxes and solstices. It’s still as fascinating as when it was made in 1727…