Centred around a former abbey, Saint-Germain-des-Pres is a vibrant administrative district in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It is synonymous with several artistic and literary figures who lived here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre and Eugene Delacroix.
Things to do in 6th arrondissement
Stretching through the heart of the 6th arrondissement is the Boulevard Saint-Germain, which was laid out in the mid-19th century as part of Haussmann’s renovation of Paris. It was once the centre of the Existentialism movement linked to Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre before becoming a major intellectual and cultural hub in the post-World War II period. Today, the Boulevard Saint-Germain is a bustling shopping strip lined with high-end designer stores.
One of Saint-Germain-des-Pres’s most engaging cultural attractions is the Musee Eugene Delacroix, which is dedicated to the life and work of the leader of the French Romantic art movement. It occupies his former apartment and studio, with early oil paintings, pastels and sketches on display.
In the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres is the Eglise Saint-Sulpice, which is the second-largest church in Paris. Dedicated to Sulpitius the Pious, it features an elaborately decorated facade based on the designs of Jean-Nicolas Servan. A highlight of the interior is the Baroque-style Lady Chapel with its frescoed dome and gilded pulpit.
Getting around 6th arrondissement
Saint-Germain-des-Pres is around 10 minutes’ drive from the 1st arrondissement of Paris and 40 minutes from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Subway services connect to the Saint-Germain-des-Pres railway station and buses travel throughout the arrondissement.