Hidden in the shadows of Notre-Dame is this magical, often-overlooked tangle of medieval streets. Through the years lucky folk, including Ludwig Bemelmans (who created the beloved Madeleine books), and the Aga Khan have called this area home, but back in the Middle Ages this was the domain of cathedral seminary students. One of these was the celebrated Peter Abelard (1079-1142) -- philosopher, questioner of the faith, and renowned declaimer of love poems. Abelard boarded with Notre-Dame's clergyman, Fulbert, whose niece, Héloïse, was seduced by Abelard's brilliance. She became pregnant and the vengeful clergyman had Abelard castrated; amazingly, he survived and fled to a monastery, while Héloïse took refuge in a nunnery. The poetic, passionate letters between the two cemented their fame as thwarted lovers, and their story inspired a devoted following during the romantic 19th century. The clergyman's house at 10 rue Chanoinesse was redone in the 1800s, but a plaque commemorates the lovers; the Ancien Cloître just might have you reciting love poems despite yourself.