Place de la Contrescarpe, Public square in Latin Quarter, Paris, France.
The Place de la Contrescarpe features a central fountain surrounded by trees and forms a circular intersection where five streets converge in the 5th arrondissement.
Established in 1852 after demolishing houses between Rue du Cardinal-Lemoine and Rue Mouffetard, the square's name refers to a defensive structure from the Wall of Philip II Augustus.
Ernest Hemingway mentioned this location in his writings while residing at 74 rue du Cardinal Lemoine, making it a reference point in literary Paris.
The square connects to Rue Mouffetard and provides access to numerous cafes with outdoor seating, serving as a meeting point for residents and visitors.
Four administrative districts of Paris intersect at this location: Saint-Victor, Jardin-des-Plantes, Val-de-Grâce, and Sorbonne, creating a central node for different neighborhoods.
Location: 5th arrondissement of Paris
Location: Quartier Saint-Victor
Location: Jardin-des-Plantes
Location: Quartier du Val-de-Grâce
Location: Quartier de la Sorbonne
Part of: road network of Paris
Shares border with: rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, rue Lacépède, rue Mouffetard, rue Blainville
GPS coordinates: 48.84447,2.34940
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39
The streets of France display the country's history. From Paris cobblestone lanes to Strasbourg canals and Nice promenades, they feature historic timber houses, markets, and shops.
The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest parts of Paris and preserves traces from over two thousand years of history. Roman remains like the Arènes de Lutèce recall the ancient settlement of Lutetia, while medieval churches such as Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre document the religious past. The Sorbonne and the Collège de France have made the district a center of learning since the Middle Ages, and institutions like the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève continue this academic tradition. The Musée de l'Histoire de la Médecine traces the development of medicine, the Musée Curie honors the scientific discoveries of Marie and Pierre Curie, and the Musée des Arts du Moyen Âge displays medieval art within the ruins of Roman baths. Narrow streets lead to squares like Place de la Contrescarpe and Place de l'Estrapade, where locals gather in cafés and markets. The Marché de la Rue Mouffetard is one of the city's oldest street markets and offers fresh produce daily. Literary and artistic traces appear at the Maison de Serge Gainsbourg, the historic jazz cellar Le Caveau de la Huchette, and cafés like Le Procope, which has welcomed writers and thinkers since the 17th century. The Jardin des Plantes combines botanical collections with the Musée de Minéralogie, while the Square René-Viviani provides a quiet view of Notre-Dame with its ancient tree. The Grande Mosquée de Paris and the Institut du Monde Arabe add North African and Arab perspectives to the cultural offerings.
Arènes de Lutèce
280 m
Rue Mouffetard
282 m
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
245 m
Montagne Sainte-Geneviève
160 m
Our Lady of Lebanon of Paris Cathedral
302 m
Théâtre Mouffetard
261 m
Fontaine du Pot-de-Fer
153 m
Couvent des Dames Bénédictines du Saint-Sacrement
241 m
Séminaire du Saint-Esprit
263 m
Jardin Carré
304 m
Hôtel Saint-Haure
234 m
Square Marius-Constant
116 m
Ancienne caserne des gardes françaises
99 m
Presbytère de l'église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
214 m
Ancienne école polytechnique
256 m
Monument to Gabriel de Mortillet
301 m
Scots College (Paris)
178 m
Bibliothèque byzantine
233 m
6 rue Mouffetard, Paris
33 m
9 rue de l'Estrapade, Paris
172 m
La Convention nationale
293 m
Enceinte of Philippe-Auguste
276 m
47 rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, Paris
293 m
51 rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, Paris
272 m
16 rue Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris
268 m
Chapelle de la Congrégation du Saint-Esprit de Paris
240 m
Enceinte of Philippe-Auguste
140 m
Square Oronce Fine
234 mReviews
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