Living in Saint Germain des Prés

Understanding life in Saint Germain des Prés

Why people choose to live here

Saint Germain des Prés covers the north west of the 6th arrondissement, between the Seine, the Rue des Saints-Pères, the Rue du Four and the Rue de Seine, around the abbey church that gives it its name. It is one of the most elegant and literary corners of Paris, with art galleries, bookshops, antique dealers and famous cafés along quiet, historic streets. Professionals, families and international newcomers choose it for its timeless charm, its central Left Bank location and its easy access to the Louvre, the Seine and the Jardin du Luxembourg.

History and architectural character of Saint Germain des Prés

The district grew around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century, and its church, with a bell tower dating from around the year 1000, is among the oldest in Paris. The abbey lands were gradually built over from the 17th century, leaving streets such as the Rue Jacob and the Rue de l'Abbaye. After the Second World War, Saint Germain des Prés became the heart of intellectual Paris, when Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and their circle met at the Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots.

Daily life in Saint Germain des Prés

Shopping and local services

Shopping here is a pleasure. The Rue Bonaparte, the Rue du Dragon and the Rue Jacob are lined with fashion boutiques, antique dealers and design shops, and art galleries cluster around the Rue de Seine and the Rue des Beaux-Arts. For daily needs, the Marché Saint-Germain, a covered market just south east on the Rue Lobineau, opens Tuesday to Sunday, and bakeries, pharmacies and supermarkets are found on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. The Mairie of the 6th, on the Rue Bonaparte near Saint-Sulpice, handles town hall services.

Education and family life

Families have good options nearby. The École polyvalente Saint-Benoît, at 12 rue Saint-Benoît, serves younger children in the heart of the district, and the Collège Jacques-Prévert, at 18 rue Saint-Benoît, takes secondary pupils. Well known lycées such as Fénelon and Montaigne are a short walk away in the 6th arrondissement. Higher education is also close, with the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts on the Rue Bonaparte. Places in public schools are allocated by home address through the Mairie, and the Jardin du Luxembourg is a favourite weekend outing.

Health and medical services

Healthcare is easy to reach. The Hôtel-Dieu, an AP-HP hospital on the Île de la Cité with an emergency department, is a short ride east, and the Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, a leading children's hospital, is a few metro stops south west. General practitioners, dentists and specialists practise throughout the 6th, and many accept the carte Vitale under the French public health system. Pharmacies line the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Rue de Rennes. Newcomers should register with a médecin traitant to lower the cost of most consultations and simplify referrals to specialists.

Transportation and connectivity

Getting around is simple. Saint-Germain-des-Prés station, on the Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, serves metro line 4, which runs north to Châtelet and Gare du Nord and south to Montparnasse. Mabillon, on line 10, and Saint-Sulpice, on line 4, are just beyond the edge of the district, and Odéon adds line 10. Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, with RER B and C, is a short walk east. Buses run along the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the quays, and cycle lanes and bike sharing stations make cycling a practical choice.

Leisure, culture, and social life

Parks and green spaces

Green spaces are small but charming. The Square Laurent-Prache, beside the church, is a quiet garden with a bust by Picasso dedicated to the poet Guillaume Apollinaire. The Square Félix-Desruelles, on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, has benches and flower beds behind an ornate ceramic portal. The tiny Place de Furstenberg, with its lamp post and trees, is one of the most romantic corners of Paris. For longer outings, the Jardin du Luxembourg is about ten minutes south, and the Seine quays and the Pont des Arts are just north.

Restaurants, cafés, and nightlife

Café life is legendary here. The Café de Flore, at 172 boulevard Saint-Germain, and Les Deux Magots, on the Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, have welcomed writers and artists for more than a century. Brasserie Lipp, at 151 boulevard Saint-Germain, serves classic Alsatian brasserie dishes and is open every day from morning until late. Le Relais de l'Entrecôte, at 20 rue Saint-Benoît, is known for its single steak and fries menu. Wine bars, bistros and cocktail bars keep the streets lively well into the evening.

Culture and local events

Culture is everywhere. The Musée national Eugène-Delacroix, at 6 rue de Furstenberg, occupies the painter's last apartment and studio and opens every day except Tuesday. The École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, on the Rue Bonaparte, hosts exhibitions in its historic buildings. The Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, restored in recent years, holds regular concerts beneath its painted vaults. Art galleries on the Rue de Seine and the Rue des Beaux-Arts open new shows throughout the year, and the bookshops of the boulevard keep the literary spirit alive.