The Ancient Roman Forum

Thirza Vallois, "Ancient Paris: Looking for Lutetia"

http://www.francetoday.com/articles/2014/09/29/looking-for-lutetia.html

The Forum, the civic, economic and religious center of Gallo-Roman life, constituted a vast rectangle built on top of the hill, corresponding roughly to the present rue Soufflot and bounded by the Place Edmond Rostand, rue Saint-Jacques, rue Cujas and the quaint rue Malebranche. The basilica occupied the eastern side of the Forum, and facing it on the western side stood the Temple, surrounded by galleries that sheltered a variety of upmarket shops, with many more lining the neighboring arteries—some 60 in all. No doubt they would have put to shame today's McDonald's and its French equivalent, Quick, and the rest of the jumble of junk that now graces the Boulevard Saint Michel.

The Forum's hill was higher at the time, and much steeper. Taking advantage of this topography, Lutetia's monuments were positioned mainly on the northern slope that rolled down towards the Seine Valley, displaying their magnificence for all to see and admire from a distance. Surmounting them against the skyline was the red-tiled roof of the Forum—now replaced by the dome of the 18th-century Panthéon. . .

As many as fifteen shops lined the decumanus of the rue des Ecoles, providing the privileged Naute clientele of the Cluny baths with scents and other such upscale spa products. The theatre was situated on rue Racine, right next to today's Théâtre de l'Odéon.