Place de la Contrescarpe, Public square in Latin Quarter, Paris, France.
Place de la Contrescarpe is a public square in the Latin Quarter where five streets meet at a circular intersection with a central fountain surrounded by trees. Cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating line the edges, creating a defined gathering space in the 5th arrondissement.
The square was created in 1852 following the demolition of houses between Rue du Cardinal-Lemoine and Rue Mouffetard. Its name refers to a defensive fortification from the Wall of King Philip II Augustus that once protected this area.
The square takes its name from a medieval defensive structure and serves as a gathering place where locals pause for coffee and conversation. The cafés spilling onto the pavement create a relaxed social hub where the neighborhood's daily rhythm unfolds throughout the day.
The square connects multiple streets and provides easy access to shops and restaurants in the surrounding area. The open layout makes navigation simple, and the central fountain serves as a natural landmark for finding your way.
Four administrative districts of Paris meet at this point: Saint-Victor, Jardin-des-Plantes, Val-de-Grâce, and Sorbonne. This geographical oddity makes the square a true crossroads where different neighborhoods of the city intersect.
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: December 6, 2025 16:02
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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