St. Germain de Pres/ ok to wander on Sunday
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Germain de Pres/ ok to wander on Sunday
Since I do have a scheduled tour to do of Marais on thursday (jewish holiday, etc), Thought to spend some time the precceding Sunday afternoon in St. Germain de Pres and Latin Quarter. May sound a little strange this request for advise. I know that shops are closed in these areas on Sundays but will there still be some of the same ambience? At least the architecture and the old streets cant change.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is a major tourist area, I wouldn't bet the shops are closed (some are, of course, but stores are allowed to stay open in tourist areas like the Champs-Elysees and St Germain). And you are right the streets and buildings can't change. I think you may have more romantic ideas about St Germain than the reality of it. It is hardly charming in many locations, like tons of young people and "bums", etc, sitting around the small square where the Odeon metro stop is, and throngs of tourists on the terrace of Les Deux Magots. That ambience doesn't change, it is there every day.
Ralph Lauren is open on bd St Germain on Sundays, I know that.
Ralph Lauren is open on bd St Germain on Sundays, I know that.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We normally stay in the 6th near St. Germain des Pres and I have yet to notice "lots of gypsies" on Sunday or any other day for that matter. Of course you will find them around Paris but as long as you are alert and don't engage them, as in any large city, you should not have a problem.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stay in St. Germain des Pres every year and have never seen gypsies or bums. Well, maybe one sitting on the steps of St. Sulpice asking for money. It's a busy area and there's a lot to see besides shops.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the many times we've stayed in the 5th or 6th I've never noticed or been bothered by swarms of any group that would be trying to separate me from my possessions.
On Sundays at Saint-Sulpice church you can listen to the wonderful sounds of an organ recital beginning about 11:30am for a half an hour or so.
On any nice day, not too far from St. Germain des Pres, the Luxembourg Garden is great for people watching, especially on the weekend. Have a terrific trip. Deborah
On Sundays at Saint-Sulpice church you can listen to the wonderful sounds of an organ recital beginning about 11:30am for a half an hour or so.
On any nice day, not too far from St. Germain des Pres, the Luxembourg Garden is great for people watching, especially on the weekend. Have a terrific trip. Deborah
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, very safe around st Germain des pres, but the Lain Quarter does not feel as safe, though I have never had a problem there, even carrying very expensive camera kit for all to see.
If you want a preview of st Germain des pres, you can find a few photos here and a 360° photo of the Abbey inside and out.
http://www.parisbyphoto.com/monument...gdp/index.html
If you want a preview of st Germain des pres, you can find a few photos here and a 360° photo of the Abbey inside and out.
http://www.parisbyphoto.com/monument...gdp/index.html
#13
Saint Germain des Prés is particularly boring on a Sunday depending which streets you are on. Boulevard Saint Germain is pretty much the same as ever ( = boring to me, but that's just me ), but streets like rue Bonaparte or rue Jacob are beyond dead with all of the art galleries that have replaced any normal expression of commerce. Rue de Buci is alive until 13:00 and then it joins the general coma of the area.
Oh, don't worry -- if you want to visit the double or triple-priced famous cafés, they are there to take your money as fast as you can give it to them.
Oh, don't worry -- if you want to visit the double or triple-priced famous cafés, they are there to take your money as fast as you can give it to them.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I spent two Sundays in the area. It was fairly quiet so I went elsewhere. I will be writing about my gypsy encounters (or lack of them) in my trip report. Sunday in August in Paris in this area was sleepy delicious especially in the Jardin Luxenbourg.
#15
There's lots of gypsies in the 5th & 6th on Sundays. They're swarming everywhere.>>
Jack - just to make it clear, adrienne was having a little joke due to what has been posted on another thread.
you should be pretty safe in st germain on a Sunday [or any other day, come to that] but as Kerouac says it can get a bit dull after 1pm when the shops shut and everyone goes home/sits down for lunch.
you could always schedule a "brunch" somewhere followed by a visit to a museum like the musee d'orsay or the cluny.
Jack - just to make it clear, adrienne was having a little joke due to what has been posted on another thread.
you should be pretty safe in st germain on a Sunday [or any other day, come to that] but as Kerouac says it can get a bit dull after 1pm when the shops shut and everyone goes home/sits down for lunch.
you could always schedule a "brunch" somewhere followed by a visit to a museum like the musee d'orsay or the cluny.
#19
Jack - really, i'd do it the other way round. St Germain will be dead on a sunday pm.
the other problem is that the Louvre gets very busy on sundays. the cluny would be a much better choice, IMO. it opens every day except tuesdays:
http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/hom...21040_u1l2.htm
if the only day you can see St. Germain is sunday and it's a "must" for you, i would go for a nice walk around St. Germain and the Luxembourg gardens in the morning, have a good lunch, then see the Cluny in the afternoon.
the other problem is that the Louvre gets very busy on sundays. the cluny would be a much better choice, IMO. it opens every day except tuesdays:
http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/hom...21040_u1l2.htm
if the only day you can see St. Germain is sunday and it's a "must" for you, i would go for a nice walk around St. Germain and the Luxembourg gardens in the morning, have a good lunch, then see the Cluny in the afternoon.
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
best days to see versailes and the louvre (except for thursday- have something schedule then I leave; also not there friday. Arrive early Saturday afternoon. Also best day/time Notre Dame and sites of the Island