The Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is situated on the left bank of the Seine in Paris and has for historic center the Sorbonne. It extends on both 5th and 6th arrondissements from Saint Germain des Pres to the Jardin du Luxembourg, with lots of monuments to visit: the Pantheon, the Senate, the Lutece Arenas, the Saint Sulpice Church etc. Its name comes from the numerous universities and schools of the area where Latin language has long been spoken, since Latin was the international language of learning. 

Thus, this district is very frequented by students and teachers because of the presence of universities such as la Sorbonne, Paris II Pantheon Assas, the Jussieu Campus, Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle, le College de France and the Sainte Genevieve’s library. There are also a lot of famous colleges: l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, les Beaux-Arts, Agro Paris Tech or high prestigious high schools: Louis Le Grand, Stanislas, Henri IV, Montaigne etc. Consequently, specialized libraries have been established in the district such as Gibert Jeune, which is a true institution for Paris!

Continuing west along the banks of the Seine, make a leap in time and follow in the footsteps of Boris Vian, jazz music and the existentialism! Saint Germain des Pres with the famous “Café de Flore” and “Café des Deux Magot“  are actually where Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and many Parisian left-wing intellectuals settle down in the 40′s. In between, the Place Saint Michel is a meeting place also well known, a few steps from the famous Rue de la Huchette and its numerous restaurants where tourists and students come together happily.

Enjoy your visit in this mythical area with an undeniable charm …

 Book your hotel in Paris Left Bank:

Hôtel Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse***
Hôtel Sèvres Montparnasse**

Find an hotel in Paris:

Hotel Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse***
Hotel Sèvres Montparnasse**

Paris is full of charming corners, l’île Saint Louis is one of them!

In the center of Paris, in the 4th arrondissement, l’île Saint Louis is located upstream of l’île de la Cité. These islands of the Seine are both natural, only l’île Aux Cygnes is artificial.

L’île Saint Louis, with its parallelogram shape, is smaller than l’île de la Cité and has an 11ha surface. It is connected to the 2 banks of the Seine by 4 bridges and is connected to l’île de la Cité by the Saint Louis bridge.

The most beautiful buildings of the île Saint Louis was made by Louis Le Vau, a famous French Architect. He came to the island with his family at the end of 1630’s and managed the construction of private yards and in 1644 he built the church Saint-Louis-en-L’île which is the only one on the island. In 1664, the housing development was almost achieved. Two forms of population lived there: wealthy  tradesmen and craftsmen who lived inside the island or people from a higher standing such as nobles and bourgeois who preferred to live on the banks of the island in town houses. Because of the number of these huge houses, the island was called “l’île des Palais”, “the Island of Palaces”. L’Hôtel Lambert, built by Louis Le Vau, is the biggest town house of the island and is situated quai d’Anjou.

Since 1725, the island has been called l’île Saint Louis because of Louis IX, called Saint Louis. According to legend, he used to pray on the island and took the cross with his knights in 1269 before the 8th crusade. This expedition was fatal because he died one year later in Tunis.

Today, many famous people live on the island, as the journalist and writer Claude Sarraute, the singer Brigitte Fontaine or the couple Jamel Debbouze and Mélissa Theuriau.

Finally, if you want to taste the best Sorbets and Ice Cream of Paris , go to Berthillon in the Saint Louis en L’île street !

Find an hotel in Paris:

Hotel Best Western Aurore***
Hotel Alexandrie***
Hotel Gare de Lyon***
Hotel Best Western Premier Louvre Saint Honoré****
Hotel Best Western Ducs de Bourgogne****

Every summer in Paris, the banks of the Seine are crowded! For this 10th edition, the town hall worked twice as hard so that Paris is going to be turned into a real beach resort! There will be 10 times more sand than last year to create the necessary dunes.

During one month, from July 21st to August 21st people who can’t afford going on holidays will have a beach to rest! Indeed Paris Plages offers a lot of entertainments for everyone: cultural activities, sports and nautical activities.

On the voie Georges Pompidou (from quai du Louvre to the Bridge d’Arcole) you will see a 1 km beach! Moreover, around the Basin of la Villette, parisiens and tourists will find: pool, petanque game (famous French game of boules), dance and taichi lessons etc.

New activities for 2011: concerts, tales and photo contest.

Paris Plages will be opened everyday from 8 am to 12 am. Enjoy a relaxing moment, lying on a deck chair, under a palm!

Find an hotel in Paris:

- Hôtel Best Western Premier Louvre Saint Honoré****
- Hôtel Best Western Ducs de Bourgogne****
- Hôtel Best Western France Europe***

If you are looking for some cultural tips for your next trip to Paris, why wouldn’t you go to the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain?

Since 1984, the Fondation Cartier has tried to promote new French or International contemporary artists with different kind of events: exhibitions, shows, acquisition and events such as the well know “Soirées Nomades”… Besides, the foundation is present on all fronts by highlighting sculpture, video, sound, design or photography. The own collection of the foundation gathers all the contemporary culture since the 80’s century, with more than 1000 pieces from 300 different authors, and is particularly interested in other cultures: American, African and Asian.

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain was created in 1984 by Alain-Dominique Perrin. First located in Jouy en Josas, the foundation moved to Paris at 261, Boulevard Raspail in 1994. In this 1200m² building designed by Jean Nouvel, 3 floors are dedicated to the exhibitions. The transparency and the plays on volumes and walls of this architecture are pretty interesting too. By the way, the museum is surrounded by a garden landscaping by Lothar Baumgarten.

Until September 25th, the Fondation Cartier welcomes the Voodoo Exhibition by Jacques Kerchache. Voodoo sculptures will be showed off so we can learn about this culture. Movies, pictures and notes will be there to help us understanding these West Africa valuables.

Come to the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain to discover this great bulding or learn more about the fascinating Voodoo culture!

Find an hotel in Paris:

Hotel Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse***
Hotel Sèvres Montparnasse**

Only a few days left  before the beginning of the summer sales in Paris! From June 22nd at 8am to July 26th at midnight, clients will clean out the stores to find the the fashion “Must-Have” of the summer. Indeed, since 2008, the summer sales  have become an essential rendezvous before summer holidays, every 

Hence, Wednesday morning at 8am, Daphné Bürki, an editorial from the French magazine Be, will kick off the sales at the Galerie Lafayette Haussmann! She will welcome the first clients with a collector bag “Be fête les soldes aux Galeries Lafayette”  (Let’s celebrate sales with Be at Galerie Lafayette) and “petits fours”.

Prices will be displayed with 30-50% discount on a wide selection of every kind of products. Products from the brand “Galerie Lafayette” will even have a  60% discount!

If you’ve been dreaming of a new pair of shoes or a new bag for the last six months, don’t have qualms anymore! Rush into the stores to find your size and the best products before they’re sold out! Alternatively, if you prefer to avoid the general excitation and the long checkout lines, you can order everything you want on the internet. Lots of online shops provide interesting discounts for the sales.

Here are some unmissable products for the summer:

- Colors: Flashy colors such as coral, turquoise and fuchsia.
- Materials: lace, fishnet, cotton, deerskin.
- Patterns: Vichy, Liberty, flowers, panther, Python, dots and scratches.
- Shapes: combination, shorts, long skirts and wide pants.
- Details: ropes, fringes, feathers, pleated, English embroidery, gildings and glitters. The butterfly will be everywhere!

Get ready, sales are coming!

Find an hotel in Paris:

Hotel Best Western Premier Opera Diamond****

Hotel Opera Marigny****

Hotel Best Western Premier Opera Opal****