The history of Saint Louis Island

The island of Saint Louis was given by King Louis the Bald, grandson of Charlemagne, to the bishop of Paris in 867. It was then divided in two under Philippe Auguste when the capital was fortified, and a canal was built in the extension of the surrounding walls. It is under Louis XIII that the urbanization will start and that the channel will be filled in to reunify the two islands. The subdivision was practically completed in 1664. A large number of hotels built at this time are the work of the architect Louis Le Vau.

The walk

The route we propose differs slightly from the one in the video because we did not take the quays of Orleans and did not go to the square Barye.

The tour we deliver here takes about two hours. The departure is at Notre Dame where you can see the renovation site which is particularly impressive. You can then go around the island along the Seine, passing by the Square Barye.

You will then take the quay of Anjou where you will be able to admire very beautiful private mansions.

Having completed the tour of the island, you will have the opportunity to stop at the San Regis Bar or at one of the two nearby cafés, both of which offer a pleasant terrace that you can enjoy if you are lucky.

You will then take the street Saint-Louis en l’île to discover its stores. It is impossible not to mention the Bertillon ice creams.

The artisanal ice creams of the Bertillon ice cream maker are characterized by the quality and the variety of the flavors. This ice cream shop, which is located on the street Saint-Louis en l’île, supplies all the ice cream shops of the island Saint Louis. In summer, you will find lines at many ice cream shops. As the ice creams are all of the same quality, the one we recommend, because the wait is shorter, is located on an adjacent street, the rue des Deux-Ponts.

To end your walk you can then visit the church Saint-Louis-en-l’île which is quite charming.