Odéon

Odéon sits at the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Left Bank neighbourhood that was the intellectual and artistic capital of 20th-century Paris. Sartre wrote Being and Nothingness in the Café de Flore, five minutes west on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Simone de Beauvoir held court at Les Deux Magots across the street. Albert Camus, Samuel Beckett and James Baldwin all worked in the surrounding area. The cafés are still here, still expensive, still serving the same coffee - the atmosphere is arguably worth the price.

The Luxembourg Gardens, one of Paris's most beautiful formal parks, are a 10-minute walk south. The Odéon theatre - France's national theatre for European drama - is directly on the square.

Station Overview

Zone 1. Lines 4 and 10. Step-free access available.

Travel Tips

• Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are expensive but the terrace atmosphere is unmatchable - go for breakfast rather than dinner for the best value
• Rue de Buci market (3 min walk) is excellent on weekday mornings - fresh produce, cheese, flowers
• Luxembourg Gardens (10 min walk south) have free entry and some of Paris's most beautiful formal French gardens

Nearby Attractions

Luxembourg Gardens - 10 minutes walk south. 23-hectare formal park with fountains, statues, beehives and tennis courts. Free entry.

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots - 5 minutes walk west. Historic literary cafes on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Best for breakfast or an afternoon coffee.

Musée Delacroix - 5 minutes walk. The Romantic painter's final studio and apartment, now a small museum. Free first Sundays.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Standard Métro hours. The Luxembourg Gardens close at dusk. The area is most atmospheric on weekday mornings before the tourist crowds build on Boulevard Saint-Germain.