Montparnasse District: What to See, Cemetery, Tower and Artists' Cafés
The Montparnasse district (14th and 15th arrondissements) can be visited in half a day: the Montparnasse Tower (210 m, built from 1969 to 1973) and its panoramic terrace, the Montparnasse Cemetery (free entry) where Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Samuel Beckett, Charles Baudelaire and Man Ray rest, then the great cafés where artists gathered in the early 20th century. Picasso, Modigliani, Soutine, Brancusi, Braque and Man Ray frequented the district when Montmartre was getting too expensive. Montparnasse station, the departure point of many trains, is at the heart of the district.
Highlights
The Montparnasse Tower
One of the landmarks of the Paris skyline. From the top, the view takes in the Eiffel Tower and the whole city: see the Montparnasse Tower page.
The Montparnasse Cemetery
Tree-lined paths, sculptures and poetic epitaphs, including a statue of a giant cat: see the Montparnasse Cemetery page.
The historic cafés
La Closerie des Lilas, Le Dôme and La Coupole, on boulevard du Montparnasse, recall the golden age of the artists. La Coupole is now chic and expensive: a coffee or a dessert is enough for the atmosphere.
The Bourdelle Museum and the Catacombs
The Bourdelle Museum shows the sculptor's studio; the Catacombs, at Denfert-Rochereau, are a few metro stops away.
Rue Daguerre
A pedestrian shopping street for market shopping, a meal or a coffee in a neighbourhood atmosphere.
Practical info
Tips
- The Montparnasse Tower is the best viewpoint for seeing the Eiffel Tower (you cannot see it while standing on it). Group the visit into one route: tower, cemetery, then the cafés of the boulevard. The district is also known for its crêperies near the station, traditional since the Bretons arrived in Paris: we could not verify their addresses and hours, so check on the spot. If you are staying here, see our hotels near Gare Montparnasse.
How to get there
Metro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe (lines 4, 6, 12 and 13); Edgar Quinet (line 6) or Raspail (lines 4 and 6) for the cemetery and the boulevard.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
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