The name of Boulevard Saint-Germain derives from Bishop Germain, who protected the treasures of the monastery and abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés from vandals, in the Middle Ages. The area on the west side of the abbey is known as the Faubourg Saint-Germain, or suburb of the Saint-Germain district. After the death of the bishop, the district became the richest in France. In the seventeenth century, it was a centre of cultural life, with various literature and theatre events. This area was famous for the noble town houses and kept this reputation until the nineteenth century, when a new bourgeoisie invaded from the Right Bank, in stark contrast with the old aristocracy.  

The houses of the bourgeoisie were situated mainly on the Champs Élysées and Blvd Saint-Honoré. Artists, poets and bohemians met here, as well as writers Balzac, Racine and Georges Sand; painters Ingres, Delacroix and Manet; and prominent actors, such as Mounet-Sully. From the middle of 20th Century, Saint-Germain became a frequently visited site for its lively nightlife and charming cafés. Students and professors flocked to the boulevard because of the close vicinity to the Latin Quarter, popular for its cafes Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore – a meeting point for Existentialism followers. Musicians also gathered, or even lived on the boulevard, such as Léo Ferré (who sang at La Fontaine des Quatre Saisons), Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Guy Béart, Charles Aznavour, Charles Trénet and Serge Gainsbourg.

Today, Boulevard Saint-Germain is a vibrant and high-end shopping street, with department stores of world-renowned brands, such as Armani and Sonya Rykiel. The Institute d'études politiques, or ‘Science-Po’, is also on this boulevard, which is one of the most prestigious political science schools in Europe.