Saint Germain- des- Prés

“Saint Germain-des-Prés” is the heart of the city and known for its “grand boulevards”, countless fashion boutiques, and famous cafés - some of which were favourites of Hemingway and Sartre. The Romanic clock tower of the magnificent church opposite the fashionable “deux Magots” café is about one thousand years old and the very first chapel at this site was consecrated by bishop “Germain” in 558. During mediaeval times the church was the centre of an abbey, which included a vast monastery and a settlement outside the city wall. During the French revolution, the insurgents cruelly massacred the monks and destroyed much of the beautiful monastery, but fortunately they spared the church of “Saint Germain-des-Prés” and the abbatial palace on rue de l’Abbaye, which was erected in 1586 by Cardinal Charles de Bourbon in splendid renaissance style. The former stables of the monastery were situated opposite the palace and now form one of the most charming squares of the city, “place Furstemberg” . During the 19 th century, Eugène Delacroix, the famous French painter lived near here, and Richard Wagner composed parts of his remarkable opera Thannhäuser in no. 14, rue Jacob. Around the picturesque square, some of the narrow lanes with ornamental facades and hidden backyards are characteristic of a more rural setting. Elegant fashion boutiques, extravagant art galleries, and exquisite antique shops add a cosmopolitan touch to this attractive residential area. Just a few minutes’ walk away lies the bustling market street “rue de Buci” with many “en vogue” cafés and there are food stalls catering to every palate. This is definitely the place to be for people who like to be in the centre of a crowd. Those seeking a home near animated spots may find their favourite location in one of the quieter narrow lanes between the Seine and “rue Saint André des Arts”. Fabulous real estate can be found in romantic side streets such as “rue de Savoie”, “rue Séguier”, and “rue Christine” where a monumental rounded porch opens to a former convent. Pablo Picasso lived on “rue des grands Augustins” where he painted the famous “ Guernica ”. The handsome tract around the upper stretches of “rue de Seine” and “Bonaparte” abounds with galleries of contemporary fine art. This area was a favourite of the Irish novelist Oscar Wilde. He spent a lot of time at the “Hotel l’hôtel” in “rue des Beaux arts”. Many Parisians enjoy living here because the narrow lanes are much quieter than the busy “rue de Buci”. The quay along the Seine with the sumptuous “Institut de France” palace and its splendid cupola constitutes another exciting real estate location. Some top floor apartments are light-infused and offer impressing views of the “Louvre” and the “Ile de la Cîté” island including the wonderful facade of “Notre-Dame” cathedral and the beautiful “place Dauphine ”. Although the traffic on the quays is strong, most of the apartments are surprisingly quiet as many proprietors installed double-glazed windows for those facing the street and receive fresh air through the courtyards. “Saint Germain-des-Prés” is one of my favourite districts and it has always been a great pleasure for me to work here. For many years I have been gathering a number of supremely beautiful rental apartments, some of which are occasionally put on sale. If you are interested in this area, please do not hesitate to contact me. Find more information here: http://www.khs.fr/Blog.cfm

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