Page 159 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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9 Jardin du
La Sorbonne
Luxembourg
Seat of the University of Paris q Odéon. W Luxembourg.
until 1969, the Sorbonne was
established in 1257 by Robert Open daily.
de Sorbon, confessor to Louis This graceful and historic area
IX, to enable poor scholars to offers a peaceful haven in the
study theology. It achieved heart of Paris. The gardens,
fame as a center of learning which cover 25 ha (60 acres),
in the late Middle Ages. The were opened to the public in
first printing house in France the 19th century by their then
was founded here in 1469.
Suppressed during the owner, the Comte de Provence.
Revolution for opposition They are centered on the
to liberal 18th-century Luxembourg Palace, which was
philosophical ideas, and built for Marie de Médicis, the
re-established by Napoleon widow of Henri IV, and is now
P E T I T P O N T in 1806, the Sorbonne split View of the Panthéon from the Jardin the home of the French Senate.
Dominating the gardens is an
into 13 separate universities
du Luxembourg
in 1971. Lectures are still held
on the original site. 8 Panthéon octagonal lake surrounded
by formal terraces, where
Place du Panthéon. Tel 01-44 32 18 00 sunbathers gather on fine
q Place Monge, Cardinal-Lemoine. summer days.
Open daily. Closed Jan 1, May 1, Jul 14, 0 St-Germain-
R U E D U P E T I T P O N T Q P O N T A U Famous as the last resting place des-Prés
Dec 25. & 8
S E I N E
of some of France’s greatest
3 Place St-Germain-des-Prés.
D O U B L E
citizens, this magnificent church
Tel 01-55 42 81 33. q St-Germain-
was built between 1764 and
des-Prés. Open daily. 8 (reserve
U A I D E
patron saint of Paris. During the
1790 to honor Sainte Geneviève, in advance).
Revolution, it was turned into a Originating in 558 as a basilica
M
O
pantheon to house the tombs to house holy relics, this is
N
T
of the illustrious. the oldest church in Paris.
E
B
E Based on Rome’s pantheon, St-Germain had become a
the temple portico has 22 powerful Benedictine abbey
L
Corinthian columns, while the by the Middle Ages, but was
L O
tall dome was inspired by that largely destroyed by fire in 1794.
of St. Paul’s in London (see p66). Major restoration took place in
R
Geneviève’s life is celebrated in the 19th century. A single tower
U
E
a series of 19th-century nave survives from the original three,
murals. Many French notables housing one of the most ancient
L
A
St-Julien- rest in the crypt, including belfries in France. Famous tombs
G
le-Pauvre, one Voltaire, Rousseau, and Victor include that of 17th-century
R
of the oldest Hugo. The ashes of Pierre and philosopher, René Descartes.
A
N
churches in Marie Curie are also held here. After World War II, the area
G
Paris, dates attracted writers
E
back to the and artists,
12th century.
including one
of the leading
B L V D S T G E R M A I N
Maubert-Mutualité figures of the
Existentialist
movement, Jean-
Paul Sartre, and
writer Simone de
Beauvoir. Bars
and cafés, such
Key
as Les Deux
Suggested route Magots and the
Café de Flore,
which were their
daily haunts, are
now popular
De Médicis fountain in the Jardin du Luxembourg with tourists.
For keys to symbols see back flap
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