From the Pantheon to Rue Mouffetard. A virtual tour of one of Paris’ most emblematic Left Bank districts

with Chris Boïcos

The Paris Pantheon dominates the summit of the Left Bank’s highest hill, the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. Originally built as a Royal church in honor of Louis XV it was later turned into a vast patriotic monument and burial ground celebrating France’s “great men” and more lately, also women. Our walk will take us from the surprisingly elegant interior of this great neo-classical monument to the other remarkable buildings of the hill: The exquisite Renaissance and Baroque church of St Etienne du Mont, the imposing buildings of the university of Paris from various periods, including the 18th century Faculty of Law, the famous Sainte-Geneviève library and the prestigious modern lycées founded in the vestiges of a medieval abbey and an old Jesuit college.

After history and great men, we will discover the old narrow streets of the east side of the hill, untouched by Baron Hausmmann’s demolitions, ending in one of Paris’ oldest and most delightful market streets, the rue Mouffetard.