Metro-expo-resto #6
“mÉtro, Expo, Resto”
Break out of the mould of “métro, boulot, dodo” (a French expression that, translated literally, means “Métro, work, sleep”) and get ready for “Métro, expo, resto”, as Babylangues introduces you to a new way of exploring the Paris Métro system. Join us in our quest to discover the various stations dotted across the city. How did they get their name? What are the surrounding neighbourhoods like? What can be found nearby? So many questions, and Babylangues has all the answers!
#6 – Odéon
Odéon is a station on lines 4 and 10 of the Paris Métro, situated in heart of the 6ème arrondissement on the Left Bank of the River Seine. Taking its name from the nearby Théâtre de l’Odéon, the station was opened on 9th January 1910 – making it a grand old age of 107!
The 6ème arrondissement, also known as the Latin Quarter, was traditionally the student-hub of Paris and is home to many world-famous educational institutions, such as the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, the Académie française and the seat of the French Senate. France’s oldest university, La Sorbonne, was also founded here in 1257 and the neighbourhood takes its namesake from the fact that Latin was the most commonly spoken language amongst its students, who came from all corners of Europe.
What To Do Nearby?
As is traditional in student-areas, the Latin Quarter is full of quirky bookshops and lively bars, as well as many vibrant cafes and restaurants.
The Jardin du Luxembourg is a short stroll away from Odéon station and provides some much welcomed respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday Parisian life. The beautifully picturesque gardens belong to the Palais du Luxembourg and are always packed with visitors on a sunny day.
If you fancy a bite to eat, why not visit ‘Le Procope’, the oldest operating restaurant in Paris? Founded in 1686, this brasserie offers traditional French cuisine in a setting that is teeming with history.
Last but not least, no visit to the Paris’ Latin Quarter would be complete without a trip to the Panthéon. A former church, this neoclassical building was originally constructed as an abbey dedicated to St. Genevieve (the patron saint of Paris). Since the days of the Revolution, it now houses a necropolis to the remains of many celebrated French figures, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas and Marie Curie.
