Travel Tips

When we join the Ile Saint Louis, it is uneasy to have in mind it is previously named "Ile aux Vaches" (Cows Island) because the Parisians went here to make the cattle grazes.

Now, it is a quiet area with luxious mansions and rich flats.

From its ancient aim, the Island keeps some caracteristics. There is no subway station, no cinema, few cars. Only, a piece of 17° Century atmosphere in the middle of Paris.

Two Bridges Street
To cross the Island North - South.

On the Sully Bridge, enjoy the sightseing of the City Island and the Cathedral Notre Dame.

The 2 islands are linked by the St Louis Bridge you can use, by foot only, to join the Notre dame Square.

At the East extremity of the Island, a small public square.

It allows to pursue one of the original use of the Island : to be a lovers appointment.

Here three benches wait for the couples who can tell their feelings in front of the Seine.

The inhabitants of Saint Louis Island pay a high price to have the privilege to live here.

The quiet, the central location, the neighborhood of City Island. Everything explains their decision to be there.

Here the population does not move. Someone who has found a flat remains all the life.

The initial name of the rue Le Regrattier was "Rue de la Femme Sans Teste" (the Without Head Woman) as an engraved stone still attests (on the photograph).

There was in this Street a tavern of which sign was a woman without head who is drinking wine(!) with this moto : "Tout est bon" (everything is good). It was a sexist joke : "from a woman without head, nothing wrong can occurre".

Now the Street is called Le Regrattier by the name of one of the persons who built the first houses in the Island.

At the corner of Le Regrattier and St Louis en l'Ile, A 17° Century shop, now a restaurant : Aux Anyseniers du Roy (King's Anise Sellers).

Rather expensive (24 to 45 euros per capita), the St Louis Island restaurants are generally focused on the traditional French cuisine.

Have a look at the menus put outdoor at the "Sergent Recruteur", "Nos Ancêtres les Gaulois" and this one.

It is the Spinal Column of the Island.

At its East end, the church (named like the street) famous by its odd clock hang up as a shop sign. Landru, the famous serial murder, was chorister here.

A long the street, sympathetic hotels, restaurants and small shops : Nicolas (a chaine specialized in wine), jams (of all the fruits), hats, furnitures, grocery and even a small super market open late in the evening.

Have a look for l'Ile au Trésor (Treasure Island), a shop with chaming small decorative things.

Berthillon (rue St Louis en l'Ile at the corner with rue des 2 Ponts) is surely the best ice creams parlor of Paris.

The Sunday morning, in Spring and Summer, there is a queue waiting to buy one of the marvellous products Bertillon in box for the family luncheon.

But it is possible to have a cone.

Bertillon has distributors in several locations in Paris. Do not miss. It worths to be tasted.

Close to the shop, there is an annexe in which it is possible to taste the ice creams.

In front of the right pond of the Seine, the Quai de Bourbon in memory of the Royal Family.

At the 19 quai de Bourbon a slab recalls Camille Claudel the pupil (and more) of Auguste Rodin, lived in this hotel.