Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Centre
17 A5
Arènes de Lutèce
Roman recreation
Entrances on 49 rue Monge & 7 rue de Navarre, 5ème • no phone
Open summer 8-9 daily; winter 8-5 daily (9-5 Sat & Sun)
A rare remnant of the citys Roman past, this late 1st-
century amphitheatre was unearthed in 1869. For 200
years, it welcomed up to 17,000 spectators at gladia-
torial combats, until the Barbarians invaded Lutèce
(Paris). Today, the games played here are less bloody;
its a favourite with
boules
players and skateboarders.
16 G3
La Sorbonne
long-established centre of learning
47 rue des Ecoles, 5ème • 01 40 46 22 11
www.sorbonne.fr
Visits by appointment: call 01 40 26 23 49
Founded as a theology college in the 1200s, La Sorbonne quickly gained a
reputation as an intellectual stronghold. Classes were taught in Latin,
giving rise to the areas name, Le Quartier Latin. The college was the hub
of the student riots of 1968; if you want to get a taste of the more sedate
student life of today, attend the free lectures open to the public or visit
the the gold-domed 17th-century chapel.
17 A3
Musèe de l'Assistance Publique
47 quai de la Tournelle, 5ème • 01 40 27 50 05
www.aphp.fr
Open 10-6 Tue-Sun
This quirky museum traces the history of hospitals in
Paris. Their social and religious roles are brought to life
by paintings, manuscripts and a reconstructed pharm-
acy. Early surgical instruments also feature, including
some oversized dental pliers that are a reassuring
reminder of just how far medicine has come.
Adm
20 F1
Eglise Royale du Val-de-Grâce
277bis rue St-Jacques, 5ème • 01 40 51 51 92
Open noon-5 Tue-Wed, 2-6 Sat, 9-noon & 2-6 Sun
Built as a Benedictine abbey in the 17th century, this
imposing complex includes a fine Baroque chapel
and a museum on the history of the French military
medical service. Gruesome exhibits include casts of
the faces of disfigured soldiers who were the first
subjects of maxilo-facial surgery during WWI.
Adm
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