Green spaces in Paris’s 5th arrondissement

Start: Cardinal Lemoine metro station – Line 10
Exit 2, Rue Monge.

(S) On leaving the metro, in front of a bakery with a beautiful shopfront, continue straight ahead down Rue Monge and turn left into Square Paul Langevin. Walk the length of the square and exit onto Rue des Écoles. Turn left, cross Rue des Bernardins and Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève on your left, then Rue des Carmes, from where you can seethe Syriac Catholic Church of Saint Ephrem on your right. Finally, cross Rue Jean de Beauvais and walk along the left-hand side of Square Yves Coppens, Square Auguste Mariotte Pacha, then Square Michel Foucault.
Cross Rue Saint-Jacques, turn right to cross Rue des Écolesand turn left to continue along Rue des Écoleson the right-hand pavement. Cross Rue de Cluny on the right.

(1) Turn right into Square Samuel Paty. Cross it and exit at the far end on the right, onto Place Painlevé, to enter the Medieval Garden of the Cluny Museum opposite.
Follow a narrow path between two low walls, turn left to climb a few steps, passing a garden on your right consisting of planting beds edged with woven wickerwork. Turn right, ignore an exit opposite and head left to walk alongside a playground on your left, exiting at the far end of the square onto Boulevard Saint-Germain.

(2) Cross the boulevard to the right at the pedestrian crossing and continue straight ahead onto Rue de la Harpe. Turn right into the small Rue de la Parcheminerie and enter Square André Lefèvre on the left . Cross the square and exit onto Rue Saint-Jacques.

(3) Head left and, opposite Rue Saint-Séverin on the left, turn right and cross Rue Saint-Jacques at the pedestrian crossing. Continue straight ahead onto Rue Galande. Then turn left onto Rue Saint-Julien le Pauvre and, just after the Church of Saint-Julien le Pauvre, turn right into Square René Viviani.

(4) Cross the square diagonally, go round the fountain on the right and exit onto Rue Lagrange, in front of the fountain, facing the Seine and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Cross Rue Lagrange, turn right and then immediately left onto Rue de la Bûcherie. Cross Rue de l’Hôtel Colbert, continue along Rue de la Bûcherie and, at the next junction, turn left past the tiny Square Restif de la Bretonne. Turn left onto Rue du Haut Pavé, right onto Quai de Montebello, then take the^second right onto Rue de Bièvre to find Square Danielle Mitterrand further along on the right.

(5) Walk around the square.

(5) On leaving, take Rue de Bièvre on the right; at the end of the street, turn left onto Boulevard Saint-Germain, then left again onto Rue des Bernardins. At the end of the street, cross Quai de la Tournelle at the pedestrian crossing and continue to the right until you reach a flight of steps, a few dozen metres further on to the left.

(6) Take the steps and then walk as close as possible to the river along the Jardin du Port de la Tournelle. Pass under the Pont de la Tournelle (turn round to see the statue of Sainte-Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, which stands nearly 20 metres above the bridge), then under the Pont de Sully and continue into the Jardin Tino Rossi, which is full of things to discover. After passing the “Jardin des Plantes” Batobus stop, take the ramp on the right, just before the Pont d’Austerlitz, opposite a dog park, to reach the quay. Cross the Quai Saint-Bernard to the right at the pedestrian crossing, continue straight ahead to Place Valhubert, and turn right into the Jardin des Plantes.

(7)Walk around the monument to Lamarck, the French naturalist (1744–1829), located at the entrance, and continue straight ahead to cross the garden in its entirety. Once you reach the esplanade in front of the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, turn right to take the uphill ramp and pass between the two large greenhouses. Turn left uphill and, when you reach a tree surrounded by stone benches, continue straight ahead downhill. Then turn left, leaving a building behind you, the Hôtel de Magny. Walk past the Fontaine aux Lions on your left and take the exit opposite.

(8) Turn right to cross Rue Cuvier, then left to cross Rue Linné in front of the Fontaine Cuvier and continue along Rue Linné to the right. Turn left onto Rue des Arènes, then turn right into Square Capitan. Head left and climb the steps to reach the Arènes de Lutèce, then head left again to exit onto Rue de Navarre. Turn right; at the end of the street, cross Rue Monge at the pedestrian crossing on the right.

(9) Continue along Rue Monge, to the left. Cross Rue Lacépède, then turn right into Place Monge. Cross Rue Gracieuse and continue straight on to Rue Ortolan, then turn right into Square Marius Constant.
Cross the square via a winding, uphill path and exit onto Rue Saint-Médard. Note a mural at no. 14. Turn left and, at the end of the street, turn left again onto Rue Mouffetard. Note two original murals on the corner of the street. Cross Rue Ortolan to the left and take the next left onto Rue de l’Épée de bois. Turn left onto Rue Pestalozzi, which curves to the right. Cross Rue Gracieuse and Rue Monge, then continue straight ahead into Rue du Puits de l'Ermite. Cross Rue de la Clef and Rue Larrey, then enter Square Robert Montagne straight ahead. Cross the square and exit on the right onto Place du Puits de l'Ermite.

(10) Cross the square at the pedestrian crossing on the left and continue straight ahead along Rue George Desplas, keeping the Grand Mosque of Paris on your left. Turn right onto Rue Daubenton, cross Rue de la Clef then Rue Monge at the pedestrian crossing on the right, and continue straight ahead along Rue de Mirbel.

(11 ) Turn left onto Rue du Marché des Patriarches. Pass a small, leafy square with the Wallace Fountain, Place Bernard Halpern, on your right, and turn right onto Rue Daubenton. At the end of the street, turn left onto Rue Mouffetard. When you reach Place Georges Moustaki, pass the Church of Saint-Médard on your left. Note the striking façade on your right.
Immediately turn left into Square Saint-Médard, also known as Miss Tic. Walk the entire length of the square, exit onto Rue Censier, turn right to cross Rue Censier at the pedestrian crossing, then cross Rue Monge and follow it to the right. Pass Square Adanson on your left and, at the end of the street, keep left and take the next street on the left, Rue du Fer à Moulin. Cross Rue de la Collégiale on your right, and at the corner with Rue Scipion, you’ll reach the entrance to Square Théodore Monod.

(12) Walk around the square and exit the same way you came in.

(12) Head left onto Rue Scipion. At the end of the street, cross Boulevard Saint-Marcel at the pedestrian crossing on the right and continue to the right. Take the^first left onto Rue Michel Peter, which goes uphill, then turn right onto Rue de la Reine Blanche. At the end of the street, turn right onto Avenue des Gobelins to reach, at the end of the street, Gobelins Metro station. Line 7 (E).

Note:

This refers solely to green spaces managed by the City of Paris. The Jardin des Plantes, which is part of the National Museum of Natural History, is therefore not included.

The Jardin Carré, created in 199 on Rue Descartes, covers an area of 9,083 m² and is situated on the former campus of the École Polytechnique. Established here in 1804 by Napoleon^I, it moved to Palaiseau in 1976. The various pavilions surrounding it now house the departments of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It features a central pond and a few sculptures. Formerly open to the public at weekends, it now appears to be closed indefinitely.

Square Paul Langevin
Rue Monge, Rue des Écoles
Created in 1868 (4,328 m²)
Playground, drinking fountains, toilets, book box.
This square backs onto the imposing wall of the former École Polytechnique. A monumental staircase stands in the centre. There is also a beautiful ceramic frieze dating from 1889, a fountain from 1714, the Childebert Fountain, and a statue of François Villon, a poet of the Middle Ages. It is named after the physicist and theorist of magnetism, Paul Langevin (1872–1946).

At^43bis Rue des Écoles, the green space created in 1910 opposite the sumptuous façade of the Collège de France has been divided into three small gardens. The last two gardens are separated by the central staircase, where a statue of Claude Bernard stands.

Square Yves Coppens
Created in 2024 (350m²)
This square, which features a statue of Ronsard, is named after the French palaeontologist Yves Coppens, who taught at the Collège de France for over 20 years.

Square Auguste Mariotte Pacha
Rue des Écoles, Place Marcelin-Berthelot
Created in 1910 (365m²)
A small garden situated opposite the magnificent façade of the Collège de France, it features two stone statues of Ronsard and Claude Bernard on the steps.
The square was redesigned in 1983 in memory of Auguste Mariotte Pacha (1821–1881), a French Egyptologist.

Square Michel Foucault
16, Rue Jean de Beauvais
Redesigned in 2005 (550m²)
This square forms the western part of Square Auguste Mariotte Pacha, beyond the central staircase that runs through it. It features a bronze statue of Dante. It was renamed in honour of the philosopher Michel Foucault, who taught at the institution.

Samuel Paty Square
Rue des Écoles, Rue du Sommerard, Rue Censier, Place Paul-Painlevé
Created in 1900 (558m²)
The square was redesigned in 2000 in a medieval style, with a view of the Hôtel de Cluny. Amidst the plantings, works of art evoke culture and education. There is a statue of Montaigne, a monument to Puvis de Chavannes and another to Octave Gréard, as well as a bronze copy of the she-wolf suckling Remus and Romulus. It was renamed in 2021 in tribute to Samuel Paty (1973–2020), a history and geography teacher, who was murdered on 16 October 2020 by an Islamist terrorist.

Medieval Garden of the Cluny Museum
Boulevard Saint-Michel, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Rue de Cluny
Redesigned in 2000 (5,000 m²)
Play area, drinking fountains, toilets.
The garden is inspired by medieval gardens, featuring plants depicted on the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestry, on display at the neighbouring Museum of the Middle Ages. It comprises several areas, including a vegetable garden and a medicinal herb bed with educational signage.

Square André Lefèvre
Rue Saint-Jacques, Rue de la Parcheminerie
Opened in 1923 (758m²)
Playground, drinking fountains.
A small square situated at the foot of St Séverin’s Church. It features a bust of Émile Verhaeren (1855–1916), a French-speaking Belgian poet. It is named in honour of the French philosopher André Lefèvre (1834–1904).

René Viviani Square
Quai de Montebello, Rue Saint-Julien le Pauvre, Rue Lagrange
Open since 1928 (4,265 m²)
Drinking fountains, book box.
A pleasant garden with stone benches. An elegant contemporary fountain-sculpture stands in the centre of the garden, whilst at the far end stands the oldest tree in Paris, a black locust planted in 1601. The square is named after the French lawyer and politician René Viviani (1863–1925), who was MP for the 5th arrondissement, Minister of Labour and the inventor of income tax.

Square Restif de la Bretonne
Corner of Rue du Haut Pavé and Rue de la Bûcherie
Created in 2000 (42m²)
A small green space closed to the public. Its name pays tribute to Nicolas Edme Restif de La Bretonne (1734–1806), a labourer who became a writer. A commemorative plaque bearing his name can be seen at No. 16 Rue de la Bûcherie

Danielle Mitterrand Square
20, Rue de la Bièvre
Created in 1978 (373m²)
Drinking fountains.
A small square on two levels, opening directly onto the street. Renamed in 2013, it pays tribute to Danielle Mitterrand (1924–2011), a former member of the Resistance and a prominent figure in the voluntary sector. She lived with her husband, François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic from 1981 to 1995, at No. 22 on the street for many years.

Jardin du Port de la Tournelle
4, Quai de la Tournelle
Created in 1977 (12,000 m²)
This garden is a shaded walkway lined with plane and poplar trees, stretching from the Pont de l’Archevêché to the Pont de la Tournelle.

Tino Rossi Garden
Quai Saint-Bernard
Created in 1975 (31,612 m²)
Play equipment, playground, drinking fountains, table tennis tables, dog area, toilets.
The garden offers a pleasant, long walk along the banks of the Seine. It follows on from the Jardin du Port de la Tournelle, but can also be accessed via a staircase located directly opposite the Arab World Institute. The garden, featuring small amphitheatres for resting, has been home to the Open-Air Sculpture Museum since 1980, a place full of surprises. There isn’t much greenery, but it’s a lovely spot by the water. It pays tribute to Constantin Rossi (1907–1983), a Corsican singer and actor.

Square des Arènes de Lutèce and Square Capitan
Rue Monge, Rue de Navarre
Opened in 1882 (12,168 m²)

These are two adjacent squares. The first, consisting of a small garden, is situated on the site of the former Saint-Victor reservoirs, located below the arena. It is accessible via the arena but is separate from it. It is named in honour of the doctor, anthropologist and prehistorian Louis Capitan (1854–1929). The second features an amphitheatre dating from the late^1st century, a Gallo-Roman arena dedicated to games and theatrical performances. It was discovered in 1869 during the major Haussmannian works, and its restoration continued until 1918.

Square Marius Constant
8, Rue d’Ortolan, 1–15 Rue Saint-Médard
Laid out in 1958 (1,200 m²)
Drinking fountains, book box.
A square comprising a long, winding, sloping path lined with trees. This square is named after the French composer and conductor Marius Constant (1925–2004).

Square Robert Montagne
Place du Puits de l'Ermite, opposite the entrance to the Paris Mosque
Opened in 1929 (581m²)
Playground, drinking fountains, table tennis tables.
A small garden featuring an elegant Hispano-Moorish-style marble fountain, comprising a basin now converted into a flowerbed. The square is named in honour of the sociologist and Islamologist Robert Montagne (1893–1954), a professor at the Collège de France.

Square Saint Médard (Miss Tic)
Rue de Candolle, Rue Mouffetard, Rue Censier
Created in 1875 (1,303 m²)
Playground, drinking fountain, book box.
A square situated alongside St Médard Church. The square was named after the neighbouring Saint-Médard Church. In 2024, it was renamed to pay tribute to Miss Tic, a major female figure in urban art created by Radhia Novat (1956–2022),

Théodore Monod Square
Rue du Fer-à-Moulin, Rue Scipion
Opened in 1899 (1,450 m²)
Playground, drinking fountains, table tennis tables, community garden, book box.
This square is adorned with floral decorations and an enamelled bas-relief depicting bakers (due to its location opposite the Hôtel Scipion, which housed the Paris hospitals’ bakery from 1790 to 1974). It is named in memory of the explorer Théodore Monod (1902–2000), a desert specialist who worked for the nearby Natural History Museum.