Boulevard Saint-Germain: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:St Germain des Prés tour3.jpg|250px|thumb|Bell tower of [[Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés|Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey Church]]]] |
[[Image:St Germain des Prés tour3.jpg|250px|thumb|Bell tower of [[Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés|Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey Church]]]] |
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The '''Boulevard Saint-Germain''' is a major street in [[Paris]] on the [[Rive Gauche|Left Bank]] (south side) of the [[Seine]] river. It curves in an arc from the ''Pont de Sully'' in the east (the bridge at the edge of the [[Île Saint-Louis]]) to the ''Pont de la Concorde'' (the bridge to the [[Place de la Concorde]]) in the west and traverses the 5th, 6th and 7th [[Arrondissements of Paris|arrondissements]]. At its midpoint, the Boulevard Saint-Germain is traversed by the north-south [[Boulevard Saint-Michel]]. |
The '''Boulevard Saint-Germain''' is a major street in [[Paris]] on the [[Rive Gauche|Left Bank]] (south side) of the [[Seine]] river. It curves in an arc from the ''Pont de Sully'' in the east (the bridge at the edge of the [[Île Saint-Louis]]) to the ''Pont de la Concorde'' (the bridge to the [[Place de la Concorde]]) in the west and traverses the 5th, 6th and 7th [[Arrondissements of Paris|arrondissements]]. At its midpoint, the Boulevard Saint-Germain is traversed by the north-south [[Boulevard Saint-Michel]]. |
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The boulevard is famous for the arrondissements that it crosses from the '''St. Germain des Pres''' quarter from which it derived its name to the '''Faubourg St. Germain''' which is rich in town houses and described by [[Proust]] in ''A la Recherche du Temps Perdu'' |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The Boulevard Saint-Germain derives its name from the |
The Boulevard Saint-Germain derives its name from the [[church]] of [[Saint-Germain-des-Prés]] situated at the end of the Rue de Rennes, which dates back to the [[Middle Ages]]. The area around the boulevard is also referred to as the [[Faubourg]] Saint-Germain, or "suburb" of Saint-Germain which developed to the west of the abbey. |
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In the 17th century, the Saint-Germain quarter became a major site for noble town houses, or ''hôtels particuliers''. This reputation continued throughout the nineteenth century, where the old aristocracy of the Saint-Germain quarter is frequently contrasted with the new upper [[bourgeoisie]] of the [[Rive Droite|Right Bank]], having their homes on the [[Boulevard Saint-Honoré]] or on the [[Champs-Élysées]] (as noted, for example, in the novels of [[Honoré de Balzac]].) |
In the 17th century, the Saint-Germain quarter became a major site for noble town houses, or ''hôtels particuliers''. This reputation continued throughout the nineteenth century, where the old aristocracy of the Saint-Germain quarter is frequently contrasted with the new upper [[bourgeoisie]] of the [[Rive Droite|Right Bank]], having their homes on the [[Boulevard Saint-Honoré]] or on the [[Champs-Élysées]] (as noted, for example, in the novels of [[Honoré de Balzac]].) |
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From the 1930s on, Saint-Germain has been associated with its nightlife, cafés and students (the boulevard traverses the [[Latin Quarter]]. Home to a number of famous [[café]]s, such as [[Les Deux Magots]] and [[Café de Flore]], the Saint-Germain quarter was the center of the [[existentialism]] movement (associated with [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] and [[Simone de Beauvoir]]). |
From the 1930s on, Saint-Germain has been associated with its nightlife, cafés and students (the boulevard traverses the [[Latin Quarter]]. Home to a number of famous [[café]]s, such as [[Les Deux Magots]] and [[Café de Flore]], the Saint-Germain quarter was the center of the [[existentialism]] movement (associated with [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] and [[Simone de Beauvoir]]). After the Second World War the Boulevard St. Germain became the intellectual and cultural site for Parisian life. Philosophers, authors and musicians filled the night clubs and brasseries that line the boulevard. |
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The Boulevard Saint-Germain |
The Boulevard Saint-Germain today is a thriving high-end shopping street with stores from [[Armani]] to [[Rykiel]]. The infamous cafes continue to be sites for intellectual and political gatherings and the nightlife continues to thrive. Nearby is the [[Institut d'études politiques]] (or "Science-Po" for short), one of the finest political science schools in Europe. |
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==Noted addresses== |
==Noted addresses== |
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Revision as of 23:20, 24 March 2008
48°51′10.70″N 2°20′10.70″E / 48.8529722°N 2.3363056°E
The Boulevard Saint-Germain is a major street in Paris on the Left Bank (south side) of the Seine river. It curves in an arc from the Pont de Sully in the east (the bridge at the edge of the Île Saint-Louis) to the Pont de la Concorde (the bridge to the Place de la Concorde) in the west and traverses the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissements. At its midpoint, the Boulevard Saint-Germain is traversed by the north-south Boulevard Saint-Michel. The boulevard is famous for the arrondissements that it crosses from the St. Germain des Pres quarter from which it derived its name to the Faubourg St. Germain which is rich in town houses and described by Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu
History
The Boulevard Saint-Germain derives its name from the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés situated at the end of the Rue de Rennes, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The area around the boulevard is also referred to as the Faubourg Saint-Germain, or "suburb" of Saint-Germain which developed to the west of the abbey.
In the 17th century, the Saint-Germain quarter became a major site for noble town houses, or hôtels particuliers. This reputation continued throughout the nineteenth century, where the old aristocracy of the Saint-Germain quarter is frequently contrasted with the new upper bourgeoisie of the Right Bank, having their homes on the Boulevard Saint-Honoré or on the Champs-Élysées (as noted, for example, in the novels of Honoré de Balzac.)
From the 1930s on, Saint-Germain has been associated with its nightlife, cafés and students (the boulevard traverses the Latin Quarter. Home to a number of famous cafés, such as Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, the Saint-Germain quarter was the center of the existentialism movement (associated with Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir). After the Second World War the Boulevard St. Germain became the intellectual and cultural site for Parisian life. Philosophers, authors and musicians filled the night clubs and brasseries that line the boulevard.
The Boulevard Saint-Germain today is a thriving high-end shopping street with stores from Armani to Rykiel. The infamous cafes continue to be sites for intellectual and political gatherings and the nightlife continues to thrive. Nearby is the Institut d'études politiques (or "Science-Po" for short), one of the finest political science schools in Europe.
Noted addresses
At 184 Boulevard Saint-Germain is the world's oldest Geographical Society, founded in 1821 by von Humboldt, Chateaubriand, Dumont d’Urville, Champollion among others. It has had its headquarters here since 1878. The entrance is marked by two gigantic caryatids representing Land and Sea. It was here, in 1879, that the construction of the Panama Canal was decided.
External links
