The famous student district, just a few meters from the Hotel du Levant, has not aged a day since the founding of the Sorbonne University in medieval times! Close to the prestigious university, other cultural institutions, such as the Sainte-Geneviève library and the Collège de France, rub shoulders with the Musée de Cluny, the Arènes de Lutèce and the Jardins du Luxembourg.
The Sorbonne, the Bastille of May ’68!
Founded in the 13th century by the theologian Robert de Sorbon, the Sorbonne attracts both students and visitors from all over the world. Its chapel, amphitheatre and façade, as well as its main staircase, are classified as historic monuments. The university is located in the Latin Quarter, of which it is both the heart and the symbol; it was the historical centre of student protest in May 1968. But the Sorbonne, and its library, also serve as a setting for many cultural and scientific events (meetings, exhibitions, conferences…).
The museum of Cluny
Located in a mansion in the Sorbonne district, the Cluny Museum is next to the Roman thermal baths. This masterpiece of 15th-century architecture is home to numerous examples from medieval times, including works of art, coins, stained glass, silversmiths’ pieces and tapestries, including the famous «Dame à la Licorne». Inspired by medieval influences, the gardens of the Cluny Museum run along Saint Germain Boulevard, while the Gallo-Roman thermal baths, dating from the 1st century, are among the most ancient vestiges of Paris.
Walk in the Sorbonne district
Staying at the Hotel du Levant near the Sorbonne district means discovering the historic heart of the capital, from antiquity to the present day. The Lutèce arena, an amphitheatre designed for both gladiatorial combat and theatrical performances, is located on Rue Monge, a few steps from the Sorbonne University. The garden of Luxembourg, created in the 17th century by Marie de Medicis, is both a haven of freshness, with its fountains, its beds and its sculptures, and a key place of French political life, with the seat of the Senate.
