Let’s (re) discover the Montparnasse district !
What does the « Montparnasse district » mean to you? The Tower, The Train Station, the cinemas? This district of Paris was, between the golden ages of the Butte Montmartre and of Saint Germain des Prés, the heart of the Parisian artistic and intellectual life. The roaring twenties, the dark years, once an artist district and once a business district … but always with a lot of charm and history! The Raspail Montparnasse hotel makes you (re) visit the Montparnasse district in 8 steps.
1. Mount Parnassus
Once a hill, it was named after Mount Parnassus, residence of the Muses of Greek mythology. History tells us that during the 17th century, students used to come there to say verses of poetry, and therefore named the hill after it, to make fun of it.
If this story of the Montparnasse neighborhood seems a bit far away, there are still some traces of it ! Once out of the hotel, go down the rue Delambre to the place Edgar Quinet, a small and lively Parisian square full of bars and brasseries.
2. Odessa
Then go down the street of Odessa. Don’t miss there the many creperies from Britanny. keeping alive the memory of the community that got there at the end of the 19th century. You will also find an excellent Greek caterer that we highly recommend …
3. The Galeries Lafayette
Down the Odessa street, you just have to cross the Rue du Départ to find the Galeries Lafayette, the department store that never sleeps. Needless for us to introduce this temple of shopping, famous all around the world…
4. The Chemin du Montparnasse
Behind the Galeries, 21st, avenue du Maine, stands a hidden and green dead-end street, vestige of what was first a post house, and then a workshop for artists such as Picasso, Braque, Modigliani, Derain, Léger, Soutine … Today, you can see there the Montparnasse museum and the Krajcberg area.
5. The Montparnasse Tower
Back to reality. By turning around, we come face to face with the “Big Tower”. 56-storey high, the Montparnasse Tower was once the highest of Europe. It still dominates Paris, and offers a breathtaking view over the city, the Trocadero, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-de-Mars, the Ecole Militaire …
6. The theaters of Montparnasse
You can rest assured that the rue de la Gaîté still deserves its name ! Historically known for its popular cabarets, balls and guinguettes, many theaters settled there at the end of the 19th century. Bobino’s Theater is still standing at N° 14, with 5 other theaters less than 300 meters away … The “street of theaters” really is aptly named.
7. Edgar Quinet Boulevard
You may, every Sunday, go and visit the Parisian market of creation on Edgard Quinet Boulevard. Artists show their works in all forms: painting, engraving, sculpture, photography, collage, ceramics, painted silk, etc.
8. The Montparnasse Cemetery
Standing right next to the Boulevard is the Montparnasse Cemetery. Located between the catacombs of Paris and the Montparnasse train station, it is the second largest cemetery in the capital. A haven of peace with many trees, hosting more than 300 celebrities’ graves, including Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Serge Gainsbourg, Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco, Charles Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, etc.
It is now time to go back to the hotel, full of thoughts for Kiki de Montparnasse, Hemingway or Apollinaire. Tomorrow, you can continue your journey by visiting the Bourdelle museum, strolling at the Atlantic Garden or at the Luxembourg Gardens, and tasting a good seafood platter at the Dôme restaurant … Indeed, the Paris Montparnasse district still has a few surprises in store for you!
