One advantage of staying in a hotel on the Left Bank is that you feel immersed in Parisian life, surrounded not by offices and public buildings but mostly by private apartments and homes. Here, it is possible to imagine yourself an honorary Parisian. Few of the city’s grand hotels are to be found on the Left Bank. Instead, the traveler will discover intimate properties notable for their individuality and charm. If you want more-spacious lodgings, spas and fitness centers, it is best to stick to the Right Bank legends. The Left Bank traditionally figured as the intellectual and bohemian counterpart to the grand and aristocratic Right Bank. Global brands have now replaced many of the galleries and bookstores, but the Latin Quarter is still the locus of Parisian university life, and its narrow streets are crammed with cinemas and inexpensive Mediterranean food.

The Left Bank’s museums are myriad and magnificent — L’Institut du Monde Arabe showcases Arab-Islamic culture, and the Musée de Cluny displays treasures from the Middle Ages and hosts medieval music concerts.

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