SAINT-GERMAIN DES PRÉS
Not far from the hotel is one of Paris's most famous and romantic thoroughfares: Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Here, jazz and the festive accents of great French intellectuals and artists such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Boris Vian, Simone de Beauvoir, Jacques Prévert, François Truffaut and Juliette Gréco can still be heard! Opposite the charming 6th-century abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you'll easily find the Café de Flore, the Deux-Magots and the Brasserie Lipp.
There are many bookshops and art galleries to visit. Lose yourself in the surrounding streets and enjoy the many café terraces, trendy spots and opulent boutiques of this lively district at any time of day or night.
THE LATIN QUARTER
The Left Bank is renowned for its universities and grandes écoles. The heart of Paris beats to the rhythm of its students! Sorbonne, fac de médecine, École Normale Supérieure and Collège de France, among others, have forged this district since the 17th century. For those who love old stones, the Musée de Cluny (6 place Paul Painlevé) invites you on a journey to the heart of the Middle Ages.
A little further afield, take a romantic tour of the Île de la Cité where, if you fail to bump into Victor Hugo, you can visit Notre-Dame-de-Paris, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Along the quays, flower markets and bookshops, you'll be sure to return to the Left Bank to immerse yourself in a lively district with unrivalled charm, especially around the Place de la Contrescarpe, where you can enjoy the lively atmosphere and numerous restaurants until the end of the night.
LUXEMBOURG GARDEN
AND ITS MUSEUM
One of Paris's most romantic parks, just two minutes from the hotel. Dotted with classical statues and joggers, this timeless place will take you back to the cinematic Paris of the 1900s. You'll also find the sumptuous Palais du Sénat and, not far away, the Musée du Luxembourg, which presents top-quality exhibitions all year round (tickets must be in advance).
ÉGLISE SAINT SULPICE
Built in the 17th century, with foundations dating back to the 12th century, the Église Saint-Sulpice is one of the largest churches in Paris. Inside, admire the nave, the chapelle de la Vierge with a statue by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, the sacristy and its Louis XV-style woodwork, the 3 masterful paintings by Eugène Delacroix in the chapelle des Saints-Anges and the Cavaillé-Coll grand organ.
Free guided tour of the church at 2.30pm every Sunday. Guided tour of the crypts on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, at 3:30pm. Visit of the upper parts of the façade (except the towers) on the 4th Saturday of the month, at 2pm. Tours of the crypts and upper sections of the facade must be booked in advance by telephone or e-mail, as the number of participants is limited. Daily, 7.30am-7.30pm.
SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS CHURCH
Founded in 543, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the earliest Gothic buildings, contributing to the spread of the new style, and is of archaeological importance. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest of the great Parisian churches. The conventual buildings were successively rebuilt during the 13th century, and an abbey chapel inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle was built by architect Pierre de Montreuil and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Opening hours:
Monday, 9am to 8pm
Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
Visits: Tuesday, Thursday and 3rd Sunday of the month at 3pm
ANTIQ-PHOTO
Just opposite the Hôtel le Senat, halfway between a museum and a cabinet of curiosities, the Antiq-Photo boutique-gallery is a unique universe where antique cameras, 19th-century photographic prints and processes, primitive film cameras, optical and scientific toys all come together.
The boutique-gallery is a sought-after place for amateurs, collectors and, of course, photographers themselves. Custodian of the thousand and one treasures of modern technology, it offers the most extraordinary encounters with early photographic and cinematographic processes, as well as with the world of scientific, optical, acoustic, electrical and astronomical toys and apparatus.
MARCHÉ COUVERT SAINT-GERMAIN
The Saint-Germain covered market takes place under beautiful arcades. Open 6 days a week, you'll find fruit and vegetable sellers, grocery stores, fishmongers, roasters and international produce vendors (Iberian, Italian, Greek...). A peek (or more...) at Michel Sanders' cheese counter is a must.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 8am-8pm and Sunday, 8am-1.30pm.
LE BON MARCHÉ
AND THE LARGE GROCERY STORE
Founded in 1852 by Aristide and Marguerite Boucicaut, the Bon Marché department store was the first of its kind in Paris. Most of the store's brands were top-of-the-range. Le Bon Marché is complemented by La Grande Épicerie at 38 rue de Sèvres (opposite the Bon Marché exit on rue du Bac).
A veritable benchmark for gastronomy in Paris, it attracts the exceptional and the curious from all over the world. Even the most discerning gourmets are sure to find something to their liking among the 25,000 exceptional, rare and traditional products on offer. They're open every day, even on Sundays!
THE PANTHEON
Near the mythical Montagne Sainte-Geneviève - named after the patron saint of Paris - stands the Panthéon. Currently under renovation, this neoclassical temple is dedicated to the country's great literary and political figures. To visit the Panthéon is to immerse yourself in the heart of the French history of ideas for an unforgettable experience.
