Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Updated on September 13, 2026

At the heart of the 6th arrondissement, the now-fashionable Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood grew up gradually, from medieval times onward, around the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. From the 12th century, it drew Parisian intellectuals and artists: from the Encyclopédistes to Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Jacques Prévert, Boris Vian and Jean-Luc Godard, not to mention revolutionaries along the way. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was packed with bookshops (La Hune), cafés, antique dealers (especially on Rue Verneuil) and art galleries (Rue de Seine), brasseries and nightclubs... You can still admire its 12th-century architecture, but luxury boutiques are gradually replacing these small pockets of Parisian cultural life.

Highlights

The Théâtre de l'Odéon

The Théâtre de l'Odéon is a neo-classical building listed as a historic monument, built at the end of the 18th century to host the king's actors. It was inaugurated by Marie-Antoinette in 1782, and its Italian-style interior architecture broke new ground for theatrical staging in France. The theater has hosted major events over the years, including a performance of The Marriage of Figaro and an occupation in May 1968.

The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés has a Romanesque tower and nave dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, making it the oldest religious building in the city. A free guided tour, no booking required, is offered every Tuesday, Thursday, and third Sunday of the month starting at 3pm, and the church also hosts a concert program.

The Eugène Delacroix Museum

The Eugène Delacroix Museum occupies the apartment on Rue de Furstenberg where the painter lived until his death in the 19th century. He settled there so he could decorate the nearby Chapel of Saint-Sulpice while he was ill. Exhibitions, concerts, and lectures have been held there since 1932, and the residence became a national museum in 1971.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Since the Eugène Delacroix Museum has been affiliated with the Louvre Museum since 2004, you can buy a combined Louvre-Delacroix ticket for 15 euros at full price.