Five fun things to find in the fifth arrondissement

Bonjour tout le monde!

Today we’re on the Left Bank in the fifth arrondissement of Paris. The guest: Marie from boutique tour agency My Private Paris

We talked about loads of fascinating things to find in the district, but here’s more information about the main five.

Find out more about My Private Paris here and listen to the episode by pressing play below (or find it on the pod!)

1. Remnants of the old Paris wall

On rue Clovis you can find a huge chunk of the 800-year-old Philippe Auguste Wall. Though it doesn’t quite look like a tower, it’s part of one of the towers that were dotted all along the wall. Here’s a picture.

Address: 5-7 rue Clovis.

2. The ‘Midnight in Paris’ steps (and the church behind)

Outside the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont you’ll find the steps where Owen Wilson sits each night in the hit Hollywood film Midnight in Paris. Inside the church you’ll find the magnificent jubé (pictured below). It’s too breathtaking to describe, as you’ll hear in the episode.

Address: Place Sainte-Geneviève

3. The best cheese in Paris

Do you like cheese? Join the club! If you want the best in town then head to Laurent Dubois on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. His cheese is so good that Marie said she’d marry him for his culinary skills alone. Imagine that! By the way, the cheese Marie recommended is the Brillat-Savarin.

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Find out more on the official site here. Address: 47 Ter Bd Saint-Germain.

4. The view from the Arab Institute

Walk in like you own the place, take the elevator to the top, and see a rather unique view of Paris. Maybe grab some food up there, or simply take a look at the back side of Notre Dame. (The picture below is from before the fire!)

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Address: 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard

5. The cafe in the Grand Mosque

Grab a mint tea and a biscuit inside the beautifully quiet oasis of the cafe in the grand mosque of Paris. Just watch out for those pesky sparrows which will be keeping a close eye on your snacks!

Address: 2bis Place du Puits de l’Ermite

Well that’s it!

This list is much better to listen to than to read, you’ll get loads more insight, plus some expert info on the Sorbonne, the Arene de Lutece, and more.

If you want to book the best tour of Paris you’ve ever had, here’s a link to find out more about Marie and My Private Paris. Mention The Earful Tower and I’m sure they’ll treat you like royalty 😉 Visit them directly here.

Lastly, why not delve deeper into the fifth arrondissement (and beyond) by purchasing my PDF guide to Paris here?

Or better still, get it for free when you sign up as a member on Patreon. I hope you’ll be able to join the cheese event we mentioned on the show!