Page 143 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

ST-GERM AIN-DES-PRES  141

passes the late François
Mitterrand’s private town
residence in the Rue de Bièvre,
as well as the Maubert-Mutualité
market square, the Musée de
Cluny and the Sorbonne
university, before crossing the
lively Boulevard St-Michel.
It continues past the Ecole
de Médecine and the Place
de l’Odéon to St-Germain-
des-Prés, with its historic church
Façade of the Café de Flore, former meeting place of artists, writers and philosophers and café terraces. Fashion
boutiques, cinemas, restaurants
5 Café de Flore although the experience is and bookshops give this central
more atmospheric than culinary portion its distinctive character.
172 Blvd St-Germain 75006.
Map 12 E4. Tel 01 45 48 55 26. these days. The interior is bright It is also here that one is most
q St-Germain-des-Prés. with ceramic tiles of parrots and likely to see a celebrity. The area
Open 7:30am–1:30am daily. cranes. The café sponsors a is active from midday to the
7 restricted. ∑ cafedeflore.fr prestigious literary competition, early morning hours.
the Prix Cazes, for writers under Continuing further, beyond
The classic Art Deco interior the age of 40 who have never this section the boulevard
of this café, all-red seating, received a literary award. becomes more exclusively
mahogany and mirrors, has residential and then distinctly
changed little since the 7 Boulevard political with the Ministry of
war. Like its rival Les Deux Defence and the National
Magots, Café de Flore has St-Germain Assembly buildings.
hosted most of the French 75006, 75007. Map 11 C2 & 12 D4.
intellectuals during the q Solférino, Rue du Bac, St-Germain-
post-war years. Jean-Paul Sartre des-Prés, Mabillon, Odéon. 8 Rue du Dragon
and Simone de Beauvoir 75006. Map 12 D4. q St-Germain-
developed their philosophy The Left Bank’s most celebrated des-Prés.
of existentialism here. thoroughfare, over 3 km (2 miles)
long, curves across three districts This short street, between the
from the Ile St-Louis to the Pont Boulevard St-Germain and the
de la Concorde. The architecture Carrefour de la Croix Rouge,
is homogeneous because the dates back to the Middle Ages
boulevard was another of Baron and still has houses from the
Haussmann’s bold strokes of 17th and 18th centuries. Notice
19th-century urban planning, their large doors, tall windows
but it encompasses a wide and ironwork balconies. A group
range of different lifestyles as of Flemish painters lived at No.
well as a number of religious 37 before the Revolution. The
and cultural institutions. From novelist Victor Hugo rented a
the east (the low street garret at No. 30 when he was
numbers), the boulevard a 19-year-old bachelor.
Exterior of the Brasserie Lipp
6 Brasserie Lipp
151 Blvd St-Germain 75006. Map 12 E4.
Tel 01 45 48 53 91. q St-Germain-
des-Prés. Open 8:30am–1am daily.
∑ brasserielipp.fr
This Left Bank fixture – once
popular with French politicians
and fashion gurus – combines
Alsatian beer, sauerkraut and
sausages (it was founded by
a refugee from Alsace) with
excellent coffee. Originally
opened in the late 19th century,
it is regarded by many as the
quin tessential Parisian brasserie, A plaque at No. 30 Rue du Dragon commemorating Victor Hugo’s house

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