Many tourists hoping to tour the halls of the esteemed Sorbonne University in Paris are disappointed to be turned away by guards at the doors. Entry is in principle reserved for students and faculty. But it is possible to visit the Sorbonne if you arrange for a tour ahead of time (and are able to get enough people together). I can tell you (as an alumnus) that if you're really interested in seeing it, it's worth your time to plan ahead.
I can't, however, guarantee that you'll bump into the ghosts of notable alumni including Simone de Beauvoir, Denis Diderot, or Thomas Aquinas.Â
Group Visits of the Sorbonne (by Appointment)
The Sorbonne regularly organizes group visits for between 10-30 people. The guided tours last approximately 90 minutes and take place by appointment from Monday to Friday, in addition to one Saturday a month. Unfortunately, all tours of the Sorbonne are given in French-- you'll need to arrange for a French speaker to come along and translate for you if you aren't able to follow in the Gallic tongue.
Guided Tour Entry Fees
Guided tours of the Sorbonne are currently 9 Euros for adults and 4 Euros for students and large families. Write or call using the details below.Â
How to Reserve a Tour?Â
Send an e-mail to visites.sorbonne@ac-paris.fr or call +33(0)140 462 349. Tours are also available for visitors with reduced mobility, but please specify ahead.
Couldn't manage to get in despite all your efforts? Not to fret: aside from a few prestigious looking corridors and lecture halls, the pervasive smell of dusty books, and majestic but fairly empty courtyards, there isn't a whole lot to see if you're not a student.
You can still enjoy the gorgeous square and fountain, overlook the university's edifice, have a strong espresso at one of the cafes nearby, then go explore the many intriguing sites of the Latin Quarter. Pas si mal.Â
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