6th Arrondissement

Profile

The center the Roman city, this arrondissement is in the heart of the "Left Bank" Paris. Head here for book shopping, café life, people watching and streets steeped in literary history. Such is the literary gravitas here that the district became home to many French publishing companies (and prompted restaurant names like "Les Éditeurs").

The northern half of the district, with its irregular street pattern, is a great place to go walk around and absorb the energy of Parisian street life (just make sure you've got a map with you). The main pole of attraction there is Boulevard Saint-Germain, which also extends to the 7th and the 5th arrondissements.

Landmarks

One of the most celebrated public parks in Paris, Jardin du Luxembourg is located in the eastern section of the district. In the northern part of the park, the Palais du Luxembourg is the seat of the French senate.

Way at the the northern edge of the district, right by the Seine, is the Institut de France (23, quai de Conti), designed in mid-17th century by Le Vau. The building occupies the site of what used to be Paris' medieval wall.

» Our list of selected 6th Arrondissement Landmarks (1)

Hotels

The 6th arrondissement offers about a hundred hotels to choose from. Small hotels (those with fewer than 50 rooms) predominate, although there are several exceptions, notably Hotel Bel Ami (which has 115 rooms).

A few hotels belong to chains (e.g. Comfort Inn, Best Western), but the majority are independent brands.

» Our list of selected 6th Arrondissement Hotels (13)

Restaurants

Although there are many fine restaurants in the 6th, most people (somewhat nostalgically, perhaps) associate this district with cafés like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots (6 place Saint Germain des Prés) - former hangouts of writers and intellectuals now largely overtaken by tourists and bourgeois.

Boulevard Montparnasse establishments fared better, although they, too, clearly play the history card: La Rotonde, for example, uses table napkins covered with the names of its famous former patrons.

» Our list of selected 6th Arrondissement Restaurants (3)