Paris’ Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter of Paris is an area in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne.

La Sorbonne

Known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and bistros, the Latin Quarter is the home to a number of higher education establishments besides the university itself, such as:

• Paris City University(with the Faculté de Médecine de Paris);

• Sorbonne University(with Sorbonne and Jussieu university campus);

• PSL University (with the École Normale Supérieure – PSL and the École des Mines de Paris – PSL campuses);

• the lycée Henri-IV, the lycée Louis-le-Grandand the lycée Saint-Louis, known as les trois lycées de la montagne;

• Panthéon-Assas University;

• Panthéon-Sorbonne University (with the École de droit de la Sorbonne);

• the Collège de France;

• and the Schola Cantorum.
  

Other establishments such as the École Polytechnique have relocated in recent times to more spacious settings.

The area gets its name from the Latin language, which was widely spoken in and around the University during the Middle Ages, after the twelfth century philosopher Pierre Abélard and his students took up residence there.