Around the church
The Latin Quarter around the church
Square René-Viviani, its old tree and its view of Notre-Dame, plus how to shape an evening in the Latin Quarter around the concert.
Reserve your seat for the concert ↗Quick answer
Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre sits beside Square René-Viviani, a small park on the Left Bank with one of the best views of Notre-Dame and a tree said to be the oldest in Paris. The Latin Quarter's streets around it hold restaurants and the English-language bookshop Shakespeare and Company.
Square René-Viviani
Square René-Viviani is a public park in the 5th arrondissement, just north of the church. It was completed in 1928, after older buildings on the site were cleared and the space laid out as a garden. Wikipedia calls its view of Notre-Dame one of the best in all of Paris, which makes it the obvious place to stand before or after the concert. The church's rounded east end faces the park, so you can walk around the outside of the building and look at the stonework in daylight.
The oldest tree
A black locust in the square is traditionally said to be the oldest tree in Paris. It is believed to have been planted by the botanist Jean Robin in the early 17th century, 1601 or 1602 depending on the source, though some accounts note speculation about its true age. Tell the story with that caution: it is a charming claim, not a certified fact. The tree is propped and cared for, and it makes a good small destination while you wait for the doors.
A bookshop and a street
The English-language bookshop Shakespeare and Company stands on the nearby Rue de la Bûcherie and was established in 1951. For travellers who read, it is a natural stop before the concert. The streets around the church, the old lanes of the Latin Quarter, are lined with restaurants of the old kind. You can book a table for after the music if your party is large, rather than looking for one at the end of the evening.
Shaping the evening
The concert runs for about 65 minutes, and the start time on your date appears on the calendar and in your confirmation. A straightforward plan is to arrive in good time, spend a while in the square, hear the concert, then eat nearby. If you are coming from elsewhere in Paris, allow generous time to get there; the Saint-Michel metro and RER station is the nearest big interchange. Decide before you set out whether you want dinner before the music or after it, and book a table for whichever you choose, because a small restaurant in a busy quarter can be full by the time a large party arrives.
On foot to the church
The church is on the Left Bank, with Notre-Dame across the river. The final approach is through the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter, and the church itself is set slightly back behind railings, with its plain front facing a small forecourt. If you are meeting friends there, agree a meeting point in the square and not on the pavement, since the street is narrow and the entrance can fill with people arriving for the same concert.
Rain, cold and warm evenings
The square is open to the weather, so on a wet evening plan to wait indoors nearby. The church itself is an old stone building, and the temperature inside follows the season, so bring a layer in winter and something light in summer. Guests' reviews occasionally mention warm, still air on busy evenings. A small bottle of water for before the concert is sensible, though a meal is not part of the ticket and a church is not a place to eat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Square René-Viviani free to enter?
Yes, it is a public park beside the church.
Is the old tree really the oldest in Paris?
It is traditionally said to be, planted by Jean Robin around 1601, though accounts note some speculation about its true age.
Where is Shakespeare and Company?
On the Rue de la Bûcherie, near the church, established in 1951.
Sources