Walking in Saint Germain des Prés

Give children a taste of Saint-Germain’s famous café lifestyle.

Enter the Cour du Commerce Saint-André (1) from boulevard Saint Germain. On the left side, Le Procope (2), opened in 1686, was the first place to serve coffee in Paris. Meander among small shops where kids can discover globes, pens, jewerly, and sealing wax; turn left at the end and right onto busy rue Dauphine. At the river, head left onto quai de Conti to the grandiose Monnaie de Paris (3, entry 2 rue Guénégaud), the Paris mint and coin museum. The museum is rather dry, but on Wednesday and Friday you can tour the worksops (2:15 p.m., reservation necessary) and watch commemorative medals being made. Continue along the quay and turn left onto rue Bonaparte. On the corner of boulevard Saint Germain is the Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés (4), the oldest church in Paris – spot the Romanesque capitals in the apse, the tombs of two Scottish knights in armor, and the splendid monument to Polish king Jean Casimir. Leave by the side door and turn right onto rue de l’Abbaye. Budding artists will want to pop into the Musée National Delacroix (5, 6 rue Furstenberg) to see the artist’s flat with a self-portrait, mementos, sketches, and the lovely garden studio. Retrace your steps, turning left onto rue de l’Abbaye and taking short rue de Bourbon le Château to rue de Buci. At rue de Buci, turn left and settle in on a café terrace – choose between the Bar du Marché (6, 75 rue de Seine) and Café de Buci (7, 52 rue Dauphine) for salads, sandwiches, and omelettes, or indulge in a treat at the tearoom Paul (8, 77 rue de Seine), which specializes in delicious cakes and tarts.

Metro Station : Saint Germain des Prés (Line 4), Odéon (Line 4, 10), Mabillon (Line 10)