The World of Litterature all in one neighborood!
If you were to say that Saint Germain des Près is similar to any
other neighborhood in Paris, it would be because of its singularity!
Everything started...
This neighborhood came to life thanks to the power it had of attracting
intellectuals of the 17th century. As they came by Saint Germain, these
artists left their imprints full of talent, deeply covering the streets
of their litterary mark. A reason to believe that Saint Germain inspires...
Talking inspiration, the "cafe Flore", the "Deux Magots"
(The Two Bundles) and the "Brasserie Lip"p weren't lacking of
any. In these cafe's, debates among wise men stired emotions. Nowadays,
these cafe's are still trendy, and the "brasserie Lipp" will
fill you to satisfaction.
Literary discovery of the neighborhood
The tablets found on the walls of the many houses, once occupied by Jean
Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and many other big names, are little bits
of memories that bring us to realize that the cobbles, buried under our
feet, were once trampled by literary geniuses. Walk by "rue des grands
Augustins", where Picasso finished "Guernica"; On 31 rue
de Seine, discover the building where George Sand lived in 1931 ; On rue
Bonaparte, she was Edouard Manet's inspiration.
Nowadays, the literary atmosphere hasn't faded away, it has thrilled and
convinced art galleries to settle in. . They have all gathered on Rue
de Seine. In the middle of this artistic concentration, you will find
the « Bistro Ernest ». In height and in color, it has preserved
the stretchiness and the mural decoration of its neighboring galleries.
Posters and pictures adorn the walls, while jazzy tunes float in the air…
Saint Germain is a all about art and culture. Hit the streets and uncover
the many art galleries, people selling autographs (a couple of words from
Cocteau, Verlaine, Wagner, Pagnol…), booksellers… Time for
a break from all this literature: on the benches of "Place Saint
Germain des Près", on those made out stone and shaped like
books on the Square of Gabriel Pierre, on the steps of the Eglise Saint
Sulpice.
Saint Germain can surprise and astonish you on another level …
Stuffed animals in the middle of the city
 
At number 46, Rue du Bac, you will find a strange display… Foxes
dressed like gardeners… You're facing "boutique Deyrolle".
Gardening tools, maps on the ground floor. At this point nothing surprising.
It's on the next floor, where a quiet horse welcomes you, that things
start getting weird: the store gradually turns into a silent animal house!
These animals, as real as life, are obviously dead, but are far from being
shabby. A lion living with polar bears, zebras dining with an antelope,
a rabbit, a buffalo, a hen, a fox… An unusual floor that you would
never even think of as you're entering the store. Suspicious ? Check it
out for yourself; you won't regret it.
Quartier Saint Germain des Près
Métro Saint Germain des Près (line 4) |
France :