Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of Paris’s most iconic and historically rich neighbourhoods, located on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) in the 6th arrondissement. Known for its bohemian past, intellectual legacy, and chic Parisian vibe, it’s a must-visit for anyone wanting to capture the true essence of the City of Light. The neighbourhood takes its name from the Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, founded around 558 AD by King Childebert I. "Des Prés" actually means "of the meadows", and the abbey was given this name since it was built in fields outside the city walls of Paris at the time. The abbey was a major centre of learning and manuscript production throughout the Middle Ages and its church still stands today. In fact, the Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the oldest churches in Paris, with its Romanesque tower dating to the 11th century. The area around the abbey developed as a distinct quarter, technically outside of the city limits of Paris, until it was eventually absorbed into the city in the 17th century. It attracted scholars, intellectuals, and students due to its proximity to the Latin Quarter and the Sorbonne.
By the 1700s, Saint-Germain had become fashionable among the aristocracy and intelligentsia, and following the French Revolution, it developed into an important literary and artistic neighbourhood. Writers, painters, and musicians were attracted by cheaper rents than the Right Bank as well as the area's intellectual tradition. The neighbourhood maintained its bohemian character while also housing wealthy residents in the grand Haussmannian buildings along Boulevard Saint-Germain, which were built in the 1860s-70s. Fast forward to the 1920s, and Saint-Germain would prove particularly alluring to the Lost Generation of American expatriate writers, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. In the 1940s and 50s, Saint-Germain became synonymous with existentialism, and esteemed intellectuals like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir could often be found holding court in local cafés. Nowadays, the area remains prestigious and culturally significant and boasts an enviable culinary scene.
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