Visit of the Latin Quarter along the Bièvre river Activity

The Bièvre, the second largest river in Paris, before being partially covered in 1912, was renowned for its freshness and the quality of its water, being closer to a tempestuous torrent than to a gentle and peaceful river. This freshness disappeared as soon as craftsmen and butchers settled on its banks, throwing away tripe and filth: the beautiful river then became an open sewer.

Flowing into the Seine at what is now the Gare d'Austerlitz, its meanders criss-crossed the eastern and southern parts of the Latin Quarter, running alongside the Jardin des Plantes, the town of Saint-Médard, the Faubourg Saint-Marcel, and notably the Gobelins factory.

Route: you will discover, along the route of the Bièvre, the ancient Paris with the oldest monument of the capital: the Arènes de Lutèce, pretty cobbled courtyards, a piece of medieval wall, the Place de la Contrescarpe, the picturesque Rue Mouffetard, and thesaint-Médard church, formerly at the foot of the Bièvre, remains famous for its convulsionaries, forever marking the history of the district!

• Guided tour