Saint Germain l’Auxerrois | 1st arrondissement

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Discover the Saint-Germian-l'Auxerrois district - Paris 01

The Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois neighbourhood is a well-known place among locals, as it is the 1st administrative district. It is located between Rue Rivoli (to the north), the Seine River (to the south), Jardin des Tuileries (to the west) and Boulevard Sébastopol (to the east). It represents the core of Paris, both literally and figuratively.

Quartier Saint-Germain-L'Auxerrois - Paris 1

History

We can’t talk about the history of this neighbourhood without mentioning the church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois. Indeed, the entire district was built around this place of worship, which could be one of the oldest in Paris. Both names of the neighbourhood and the church -which was time and again destroyed, rebuilt and renovated- stem from Germanus, bishop of Auxerre who came to Paris during the 5th century to meet with Genevieve, the city’s patron saint.

Cultural sites

Musée du Louvre: no need for presentation. This vast and fascinating museum is a must-visit for at least once in a lifetime.
Musée de l’Orangerie: associated with the Musée d’Orsay since 2010, it displays many works by Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso and Matisse.
Pont-Neuf: paradoxically meaning “new bridge”, it is the city’s oldest bridge and was classified as a historical monument in 1889 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Local landmarks

Aside from the local church, you might also be interested in:

Jardin des Tuileries: covering an area of 25.5 ha, it is considered as Paris’s oldest French-style garden. It was classified as a historical monument in 1914 and became part of the greater Rives de Paris UNESCO World Heritage in 1991.
Square du Vert-Galant: named after Henry IV, whose nickname was “Vert-Galant”, it covers an area of 1642 m². In 2007, ECOCERT awarded the Square the “ecological green space” label.
Jeu de Paume: constructed in 1861, the building was used for “jeu de paume” games. It hosts art and photography exhibitions since 1909.
Théâtre du Châtelet: inaugurated in 1862, it still holds classical concerts, operas and musical comedies, as well as the César Awards since 2002.
Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle (remains of the former Palais de la Cité): it served as a residence for Kings of France from the 5th to the 14th centuries.
Palais de Justice: it includes the court of cassation and the court of appeal.
Town hall of the 1st arrondissement: well-known for its Gothic style.
La Samaritaine: closed in 2005 for refurbishment, it was one of the Paris’s biggest department stores.
Quai de la Mégisserie: a place of horticulture which also has pet shops.

Parks

Jardin des Tuileries: located at 113, Rue de Rivoli in the 1st arrondissement. Access via Metro lines 1 and 7 (Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre station) and bus lines 27, 39 and 95 (Musée du Louvre station).
Square du Vert-Galant: located at Place de Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris. Access via metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 (Châtelet station), RER A, B and D (Châtelet-les-Halles station) and bus line 27 (Pont Neuf – Quai des Orfèvres station).

Schools

Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois Primary School: 6, Rue Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, 75001 Paris.
Access via Metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 (Châtelet station), RER A, B and D (Châtelet-Les-Halles station) and bus lines 21, 70, 72 and 74 (Châtelet station).