Institut du Monde Arabe ninth-floor terrace

The ninth-floor terrace of the Institut du Monde Arabe sits at the top of the institute's building at 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, on the Left Bank of the Seine in Paris's 5th arrondissement, near the Jardin des Plantes and the Pont de Sully. The institute, designed by Jean Nouvel with Architecture-Studio and opened in 1987, is known for its glass south facade fitted with hundreds of light-sensitive metal diaphragms inspired by traditional Arabic mashrabiya screens. The terrace is reached by a lift from the ground-floor lobby and offers a free, open-air view across the Seine to the Île Saint-Louis, the apse and flying buttresses of Notre-Dame, the Panthéon and the rooftops of the Latin Quarter. A café-restaurant on the same floor serves refreshments with the same view. The terrace is an easy addition to a visit to the institute's museum and library, which cover the arts, history and cultures of the Arab world, though the terrace itself needs no museum ticket. A visit lasts about 20 to 40 minutes. The terrace is rarely crowded, with the busiest times being late afternoon on sunny days and during exhibitions, and calm on weekday mornings. Photographers find the view of Notre-Dame particularly rewarding in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the cathedral's eastern end, and the facade diaphragms can be photographed from inside and from the street. Opening hours follow the institute's schedule and may change for events and exhibitions, so checking ahead is sensible. The institute was established in 1980 as a partnership between France and a number of Arab countries to promote Arab culture, and its museum covers art, science and everyday life from the region. Its library, auditorium and rotating exhibitions on contemporary and historical themes make the building a cultural centre, and the neighbouring Jardin des Plantes and the Seine quays offer pleasant walks before or after a visit to the terrace.