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The 5th arrondissement is built around solidarity, culture, small businesses and knowledge, as its mayor herself affirms! Florence Berthout talks to us about her arrondissement, its historic landmarks, its leafy streets and its not-to-be-missed cultural highlights.
To get to know you a little better, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
My background is atypical. I began my career at Caisse des Dépôts, having always been fascinated by local development. As fate would have it, I met a certain Jean-François Copé, who then invited me to join his cabinet. I held a number of ministerial posts before becoming General Manager of the Parc et de la Grande Halle de la Villette for 9 years, a totally fascinating job. Then, in 2013, we campaigned for mayor of the 5th arrondissement and I came out on top.
On the cultural front, when you manage to get a bit of free time, what are your favorite cultural experiences? Your last concert, your last show...
I have very little free time and I miss it because I'm a big fan ofopera and theater. I love avant-garde theater, which requires a certain intellectual freshness. In the 5th arrondissement, we have the Théâtre de la Contrescarpe, the Théâtre Saint-Michel, the iconic Théâtre de la Huchette... I recently went to the Comédie des Champs-Elysées to see Les Liaisons dangereuses (directed by Arnaud Denis). Delphine Depardieu plays the title role, and it's one of the best performances I've ever seen.
If you had to describe your commune to someone who didn't know it, how would you define it?
The 5th arrondissement is the beating heart of the capital, the origins of Lutetia, with pieces of history and vestiges that have left their mark. It's a district built around knowledge, university life, culture and solidarity, and our aim is to preserve this DNA while meeting today's challenges. Of course, the 5th arrondissement is also a family district!
What's one of the things you're most proud of?
There are emblematic places. The Arènes de Lutèce has no equivalent in Paris or the Ile-de-France region. Having succeeded in having vines planted there as part of a participatory and collective project, the site now recalls the historic past of ancient Lutetia, when vineyards were everywhere, but also responds to current issues - with a disease- and drought-resistant grape variety.
Then there's the Panthéon, a vast necropolis for great men and women with an extraordinary history. The church was originally built to atone for the sins of Louis XV. No sooner had the work been completed, however, than the French Revolution arrived. The church was transformed into the Pantheon.
Other places to discover in the 5th arrondissement include the Cluny museum on the Middle Ages in Paris, the Curie museum located in Marie Curie's former laboratory, and the Maison de l'Océan, an oceanographic institute. Finally, next autumn, the French garden at Val-de-Grâce will reopen, completely renovated, and it promises to be sublime.
Which event in particular would you recommend to our readers?
The Estivales seniors event, created in 2015. Throughout the summer, a variety of events are offered by numerous partners to seniors in the 5th arrondissement. Concerts, sports sessions, a cooking workshop, conferences, creative workshops, organized by people who want to give their time. And it all costs the taxpayer €0!
The Quartier du livre festival , which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is also worth a mention. This festival takes place every year between the end of May and the beginning of June; the last edition in June 2025 was sponsored by Douglas Kennedy. It features 200 multidisciplinary events, organized with the help of libraries, bookshops and schools.
What free or low-cost outings would you recommend to families and young people in your borough?
I consider the town hall to be the people's house, so everything is free. Exhibitions and conferences are held here throughout the year, while every two months the agora plays host to the European Music Festival, featuring some of the world's greatest talents. The event is so successful that bookings go out immediately. In autumn, Les Lutéciennes is a real family event, with an open-air screening and sports activities.
What's the ideal walk in the 5th arrondissement?
Start in the Rue de la Huchette district, a typical spot to visit the Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre church, then head up towards the Pantheon and the Town Hall, which can be visited. Many don't dare enter, but it's an Art Deco jewel that we'd love to have listed. Climb the grand staircase, visit the salle des fêtes and the salle des mariages!
Leaving the town hall, pass through the little Place de l'Estrapade (its name alone is an invitation to revisit history!), where countless episodes ofEmily in Paris were filmed. Then take the small Place Emmanuel Levinas down to the top of Rue Mouffetard. Follow it down to Place Moustaki, where every Sunday there's an extraordinary little bal musette.
In this corner, you'll also find the recently restoredSaint-Médard church, and next door a small square, the Miss Tic garden - there's a lot ofurban art in the arrondissement. The stroll continues towards the Monge market on Sundays, before climbing up to the Arènes and ending at the Jardin des Plantes and the Grande Mosquée for tea.
Could you name some of the key players you consider essential to the local liveliness of the neighborhood?
The 5th is a very cultural arrondissement, with its great landmarks such as the Pantheon and the extraordinary Musée de Cluny, and its theaters, including the private theaters I support. It also has the highest concentration of arthouse cinemas and bookshops, all of which are protected by the PLU (Plan Local d'Urbanisme, editor's note) to safeguard this cultural heritage. In the same way, I'm proud to have fought to protect the very important food shops .
On a personal note, what's your fondest memory of an event in your borough?
There are lots of lovely memories. Recently, we experienced the launch of the Pantheon 10-kilometer race with Nelson Monfort. It was a great memory, especially as major sporting competitions are rare in the 5th arrondissement. Hundreds of people took part in a very good-natured atmosphere, and everyone was blown away by the extraordinary finish at the Pantheon.
What plans do you have to continue improving your district and expand your range of outings?
I think it's important to continuebeautifying and planting the streets, especially the main thoroughfares like rue Monge and rue des écoles. Another subject close to my heart is the perpetuation of a solidarity grocery store for students. Opening in 2021 at the town hall, it gives 270 students with less than €7 to live on access to hygiene products, food and fresh produce, sold at 20% of their value. Around thirty volunteers run this grocery store on a participatory basis; it's undoubtedly one of the projects I'm most proud of. We're also in the process of creating a kitchen in the town hall, a unique place to learn how to cook healthily and cheaply.
With Sortir à Paris translated into 30 languages, what would you say to our readers to inspire them to discover your arrondissement in a different way?
The 5th arrondissement is truly the beating heart of the capital, where you'll find an ever-welcoming village spirit!
