At the top of the lively rue Mouffetard sits the Place de la Contrescarpe, a charming little village square with a fountain at its center, which also happens to be the subject of a classic Jacques Brel song.

You'll feel like you've gone back in time – or at least many kilometers from the center of Paris – as many of the buildings on the Place have maintained their original 18th-century façades. Come during the day and you'll have the impression that you've discovered a lost part of historic Paris. It's a romantic spot to sit and have a drink on the terrace of one of the many cafés that line the square. At night it can get quite lively, which can be fun too!

Place de la Contrescarpe
at the convergence of rues Mouffetard, Cardinal Lemoine, and Descartes
5th arrondissement, metro Cardinal Lemoine