On
exiting the Musee de Cluny, head straight across the square as you
come out of the gates heading south down the Rue de Sorbonne. The
world famous university is on your left as you go down the street,
security on the doors is tight. The Place de Sorbonne on your right
may attract you over.
After the Sorbonne buildings, the major crossroad is the Rue Soufflot.
Turn left and follow this wide road, our goal the Pantheon looms large
in front of us. |
The
Pantheon was built just before the revolution. The builder, Soufflot
died before its completion and is buried inside.
You can visit inside for which there is an admission charge.
On coming out of the church onto the steps, turn right. Facing you
is the St Genevieve Library, to which the public are admitted. In
the library there are 2,000 medieval manuscripts and thousands of
rare books.
Walk round the side of the Pantheon. Immediately behind the Pantheon
is another imposing church of St Etienne du Mont. The church took
130 years to build, finally completed in 1626. As a result the architecture
is not of a consistent style. There is a lot of noteworthy stained
glass within the church.
From the Sorbonne, walk down the right side of St Etienne (Rue Clovis).
At the next cross-roads, turn right into the Rue Descartes. You now
get the feel of surroundings more authentically French. The Rue Descartes
changes to Rue Blanville, just before you enter the delightful Place
de las Contrescarpe.
Turn sharp left here and follow the Rue du Cardinal Lemoine for a
very short distance, before turning right into the narrow Rue Rollin.
Follow Rue Rollin to the very end where you have to descend steps.
Go straight across the main road at the foot of the steps, then almost
immediately fork right into Rue Navare. This road curves around to
opposite an entrance to the Jardin des Plantes. |
Pantheon
|
Jardin
des Plantes |
We
have a special page devoted to the Jardin
des Plantes.
Next to the gardens is Gare d'Austerlitz where there is a metro. You
can also catch a number 89 bus here back to the start of the walk
at Luxembourg via the Pantheon.
|
| <<<<First
Half of Walk
|
|
