Val de Grâce

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Discover the Val de Grâce district - Paris 05

To discover the Val de Grâce district, you have to go to the 5th arrondissement of Paris. Indeed, the 19th administrative district of Paris is surrounded by the Jardin des Plantes area (to the east), the 13th and 14th districts (to the south), the 6th district to the west and the Sorbonne district to the north. It has a surface of 70.4 hectares.

Concerning its precise location, you can start at the intersection of Boulevard Port-Royal and Boulevard Saint-Michel. When you reach Rue Soufflot, you must follow it until the intersection with Rue Saint-Jacques. Then, turn right, take part of the street and turn onto Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques until you reach Place de l’Estrapade. At this point, take Rue de l’Estrapade and Rue Blainville. Once you reach Place de la Contrescarpe, follow Rue Mouffetard and Rue Pascal to finally arrive at Boulevard de Port-Royal.

History

Originally, the Val de Grâce was a very religious neighbourhood. Indeed, the very pious Anne of Austria founded many religious communities there. There were also a large number of women’s convents. You can still find some of the convents’ remains while walking around.

The most important monument of the district was undoubtedly the convent (and the church) of Val de Grâce. It is said that it was Queen Anne of Austria who had it built in the 17th century to thank God for the birth of Louis XIV. During the Revolution, the church was transformed into a training hospital for the armies of the Val-de-Grâce. It was then used for worship and restored in the 19th century. The rest of the convent will be used as a hospital until 2016 before its activities are transferred to other institutions.

Cultural sites

The Evangelical Church of Saint Marcel: It was built in 1908.
Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas Church: It was built between the 16th and 17th centuries and classified as a historical monument in 2017.
Institut de géographie de Paris (Paris Geography institute).
Institut océanographique de Paris (Paris Oceanography Institute): now called Maison des océans et de la biodiversité, this building was listed as a historical monument in 2004 (20th Century Heritage label).

Local landmarks

Hôpital Val-de-Grâce
Val-de-Grâce Church
Ecole normale supérieure
Ecole nationale des arts décoratifs (National School of Decorative Arts)
Ecole supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielle de la ville de Paris (School of Physics and Industrial Chemistry of Paris)
Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris (National Chemical Engineering Institute of Paris)
Institut national agronomique (National Agronomic Institute)
Institut Curie: This is one of the largest research centres in France.
Institut national de jeunes sourds de Paris (National Institute for Deaf Children of Paris): It is the first school of its kind in the world. It was initially established in the Couvent des Célestins but transferred to the former Abbaye Saint-Magloire decades ago.
Schola Cantorum: Created in 1894, it is located in the former Couvent des Bénédictins Anglais since 1980.

Schools

Elementary School of the Lyonnais: 22, Rue des Lyonnais, 75005 Paris.
Access via metro line 7 (Censier-Daubenton), RER line B (Port-Royal) and bus lines 21, 83 and 91 (Port-Royal – Berthollet).
Arbalète Nursery school: 41, Rue de l’Arbalète, 75005 Paris.
Access via metro line 7 (Censier-Daubenton), RER line B (Port-Royal) and bus lines 21, 83 and 91 (Port-Royal – Berthollet).
Pierre Brossolette Elementary School: 2, Rue Pierre Brossolette, 75005 Paris.
Access via metro line 7 (Censier-Daubenton), RER line B (Luxembourg) and bus N° 21, 24 and 27 (Berthollet-Vauquelin).
Sévigné Middle school: 28 Rue Pierre Nicole, 75005 Paris.
Access via RER line B (Port-Royal) and by bus N° 83 and 91 (Observatoire – Port Royal).