Paris’s fifth arrondissement, or administrative district, is the historic heart of the Latin Quarter, which has been a center of study and intellectual achievement for centuries. This district continues to be a huge draw for tourists thanks to places like the Pantheon, the Sorbonne University, and the botanical gardens known as Jardin des Plantes.
If you are planning a trip to Paris, you won’t want to miss the many attractions and historical sites found in this south-eastern central district, which is located on the left bank of the Sienne River, dating back to ancient times.
Take a look at this map of the Fifth Arrondissement and prepare to discover the rich cultural, intellectual and political history of the oldest and most prestigious central district in Paris, originally built by the Romans in the 1st century BC. C.
Top attractions and attractions
When visiting the Fifth Arrondissement, you’ll first want to stop at the Saint-Michel Quarter, which takes up most of this district, to visit some of its local shops, historic sites, and numerous performance spaces. Stroll along Boulevard Saint Michel or Rue Saint Jacques, where you can discover the National Museum of the Moyen Age (Cluny Museum) and the Hotel de Cluny, The Pantheon or the Place Saint-Michel.
While you are there, you can also visit one of the oldest universities in Europe, La Sorbonne, which was built in the 13th century as a religious school but later turned into a private institute. It also features the Chapelle Sainte-Ursule, which was one of the first instances of the vaulted ceilings that became very popular in other historic buildings in Paris.
Another great neighborhood, the Rue Mouffetard District, which is another of the oldest and busiest neighborhoods in the city. Here, you can visit the Institut du Monde Arabe, La Grande Mosquée de Paris (Paris Mosque, tea room and hammam), or the Roman-era colosseum, the Arènes de Lutece.
The Fifth Arrondissement also offers several of the oldest theaters in Paris, some of which have been converted into movie theaters, while others still offer a host of plays and musical productions for both locals and tourists to enjoy. .
History of the fifth district
Originally established by the Romans near the end of the BC era as the city of Lutetia after conquering a Gallic settlement in the area. The Romans kept this city as part of their massive empire for most of 400 years, but in 360 AD, the city was renamed Paris and most of the population moved to the City Island across the river.
This neighborhood of the ancient Roman city once housed a number of baths, theaters, and even an open-air amphitheater, which you can still see remains if you visit the district’s Latin Quarter and look for the ruins of Les Arènes de Lutèce.
You can also see some of the remains of the baths if you visit the Museum of Cluny or take a look inside the Christian crypt under the esplanade of Notre Dame, the Place Pope John Paul II, and remains of an ancient Roman road were discovered in The campus of the University of Pierre and Marie Curie.
