The Boulevard
Saint-Germain has
been the meeting place for writers, painters and entertainers for many
years. To walk this boulevard is an experience in itself, to simply
discover it or for the opportunity to cross paths with one of the
famous Parisians who frequent it. Several famous brasseries bear
witness to the boulevard’s more heady days, the
Café de Flore
hosting the nascent Existentialists, under the guidance of Jean-Paul
Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. They lived on the Place Saint-Germain
des Près, a location that carries their names today in
homage to
the great French thinkers. The Surrealists, lead by André
Breton, preferred the Brasserie des Deux Magots, found on the corner
facing the church. On the opposite side of the boulevard, the Brasserie
Lipp currently plays host to the stars of French show business. Today,
whilst having lost a great deal of its cultural influence, the area
still possesses several well-reputed publishers and bookstores, notably
on rue Jacob. Near the border with the 7th arrondissement, around rue
du Bac, one will find numerous modern designers and contemporary
furniture stores (like Knoll). The area around the rue de Rennes is now
a fashion paradise, many of the worlds top marks having boutiques here.
