The heart of Paris

Nestled between the transit hub of Paris Montparnasse and the banks of the Seine sits the historic Latin Quarter. Home to art galleries (such as Musée Rodin) and magnificent churches (Chapelle St-Louis-de-la-Salpêtrière), the Quarter also houses Paris University and an exquisite array of upscale boutiques and relaxed cafés that serve as the essence of what are termed locally as the Bohemian Bourgeois.
While the heart of the Quarter is considered the education district, venturing to the northeast corner spurs cultural attractions along the main Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel boulevards along the Left Bank. The expanse between Descartes University and the Pantheon offers a host of galleries – including the must-see Musée d’Orsay.
 

Palatial Magnificence

Commissioned in 1615 by Marie de Médicis, regent of France and the mother of King Louis XIII, Luxembourg Palace was constructed on the Left Bank site formerly home to the Hôtel du Luxembourg, from which the name was derived.

A prime example of French classical architecture, architect Salomon de Brosse’s design was the original site of Peter Paul Rubens’ 17th century paintings of the regent’s life, now in the Louvre.

Now the seat of the French senate, the palace was also once home to Napoleon Bonaparte and has since been renovated multiple times, most notably for the site’s famed Luxembourg Garden.