Saint Germain des Prés abbey, founded in 558, was outside the walls, « in the fields » ( « dans les prés »). The roman church of XIIth century is still visible, but nowadays it is in a central district of Paris (VIth arrondissement). Nearby, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir used to discuss existentialist philosophy in the Café de Flore and the Deux Magots.

Part of Braun and Hogenberg map of Paris from Civitates Orbis Terrarum I -7 published in 1572.

Click to see the whole map

Part of Sebastian Munster map of Paris from Cosmographiae Universalis 88-89 published in 1550. See this map

Part of the map made by Turschet and Hoyau, circa 1552. This map is also known as the Plan de Bâle.

This map fragment is used with permission of The Paris Pages

Part of the Merian map of 1615.

This map fragment is used with permission of The Paris Pages

Part of Septieme plan of Paris, 1705
from Gallica - La Bibliotheque Nationale de France (French)