Montparnasse tours

The name ‘Montparnasse’ comes from the Greek "Mount Parnassus" or the abode of Apollo, known as the god of beauty, poetry, and music, and has been christened by the students who would gather in this area to recite poetry. The Montparnasse became famous in the early 20th century and has been a Mecca for intellectuals and artists in Paris. Throughout history, the bohemian culture of this area has attracted people from across the world. From Lenin to Picasso, and from Hemingway to Henry Miller, each has left their indelible mark in the fabric of Montparnasse.

Some of the most interesting and attractive architecture examples in the district are the Gare TGV, the Montparnasse Tour  or Tower Montparnasse and the Observatoire de Paris. Some of the more attractive streets are the rue Campagne-Première, and the Boulevard du Montparnasse, which is a place where the tourists can experience the famous Paris night life at Paris cafes and bars such as La Closerie des Lilas, La Coupole, Le Dôme, La Rotonde, and Le Sélect. The Paris museums located in the area are the Musée Antoine Bourdelle, the Musée Zadkine and, the Musée de la Poste.

The Montparnasse Paris area is famous for the namesake skyscraper, the Montparnasse Tower, which was built in 1973 as one of the earliest sky reaching edifices in Paris. The Tour Montparnasse rises to meet the skies till a height of 656 feet and houses a bar and restaurant on its 56th floor, which offers the customers an unobstructed and magnificent view of the city of Paris.

The other Paris attractions such as the Observatoire de Paris, located at 61 avenue de l’Observatoire that was set up by King Louis XIV in the year 1667 helped astronomers to calculate the dimensions of our solar system accurately by 1672 when it was completed. Just towards the north of the Observatoire, stands the bronze statue of Marshal Ney, Napoleon’s favorite general, crafted by Francois Rude, at the junction of boulevard du Montparnasse and boulevard St-Michel. Many Parisians consider this suclpture to be the most beautiful statue in the city of Paris.

The other points of interest in the Montparnasse area include the Catacombs, the Cimetière du Montparnasse or the Montparnasse Cemetery, and the square Place du 18 Juin 1940. While the Catacombs has the bodies of millions of Parisians that were removed from the city cemetery in les Halles in 1786, the Montparnasse Cemetery is the final resting place for many famous luminaries.

While a walk through a cemetery might seem like a hideous idea, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see this beautiful Parisian cemetery that is full of monuments, striking sculptures, and landscaping.