Although largely residential, the 14th arrondissement of Paris is best known for Montparnasse (both the station and the towering skyscraper (Tour Montparnasse), for the Paris Catacombs and the Parc Montsouris. The Cité Universitaire is also here, in an area traditionally known for lively cafés and restaurants around the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the rue Daguerre.
The district is divided into four areas:
- Quartier du Montparnasse (North)
- Quartier du Parc-de-Montsouris (South East)
- Quartier du Petit-Montrouge (South)
- Quartier de Plaisance (South West)
Places
The 14th arrondissement is well equipped with theatres and cinemas : there are seven cinemas including some with puns in the name in reference to the Montparnasse tower : le Gaumont Alésia, le Gaumont Mistral, le Gaumont Parnasse, les Montparnos, les Sept Parnassiens. There are also seven theatres including the théâtre du Guichet Montparnasse, théâtre de la Gaité Montparnasse and the théâtre Rive Gauche.
If you fancy taking a stroll, how about visiting:
- The Catacombes of Paris, 1 place Denfert-Rochereau. One of the intriguing and unusual sights of Paris, the Catacombs are a network of labyrinthine tunnels, first excavated in the Roman period, that now house the remains of over 6 million burials removed here from the various overcrowded cemeteries and charnel houses all over Paris in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Well worth a visit: the atmosphere is suitably morbid and gloomy (without being too scary), the dark tunnels containing neatly stacked piles of skulls and long bones.
The Parc Montsouris, boulevard Jourdan. Considered one of the most colourful Parisian parks and a local favourite, the Parc Montsouris is a large man-made lake with waterfalls, surrounded by long stretches of gently sloping lawns. Bronze statues are to be found studded around the grounds, amongst the 1,400 trees, including such exotic varieties as the giant sequoia and the ginkgo. It is popular among families (there are two playground areas for children) and students.
The Tour Montparnasse, (Right next to the Gare Montparnasse station). If the queues at the Eiffel Tower are just too much for you and your time is limited, consider a trip up the Montparnasse Tower. This is an office building with an observation and shopping area on the 56th floor, where the elevators stop, and an open viewing area on the roof. Arguably the view is better than from the Eiffel Tower: as you’re not so high up sights are more visible, and you can see the Eiffel Tower!
- The Cimetière de Montparnasse (Montparnasse Cemetary), 3, Bd. Edgar-Quinet. The burial place of existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, feminist Simone de Beauvoir (both of whom lived nearby), musician Serge Gainsbourg, artist Man Ray, the poets Charles Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, Charles Sainte-Beuve and Marguerite Duras, the founders of the Theatre of the Absurd Samuel Becket and Eugene Ionesco, the sculptors Constantin Brancusi and Ossip Zadkine, the composers Camille de Saint-Saens and César Franck, the actresses Maria Montez and Jean Seberg, the French officer Alfred Dreyfus, the founder of the Larousse encyclopaedia Pierre Larousse, the constructor André Citroen and many others.
- Close to the Montparnasse Cemetery, you will find the Observatoire de Paris, the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centres in the world. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public; however the building is worth a look for the outside alone. stache has a rich history, dating back as far as 1200 with the building of the chapel Sainte-Agnes. (Metro station : Châtelet Les Halles or Etienne Marcel)
Restaurants and cafes
- La Coupole, 102 boulevard du Montparnasse. The famous Art Deco brasserie, convenient for a quick meal before / after a train journey to / from Montparnasse station.
- Le Duc, 243 bd Raspail. In a décor that would have pleased both Hemingway and Captain Nemo, Le Duc has been purveying the freshest of fish for more than thirty years, sometimes served raw or simply prepared—fried, smoked, grilled, meunière, steamed—according to the species and the season.
- Zango, 58 rue Daguerre. Named for the traveller’s tree, used by nomads to guide their desert crossings, this “world food” restaurant has an atmosphere dedicated to travel and exploration. Their bookshelf is crammed with a huge selection of travel guides and magazines- grab one and enjoy over a delicious brunch.
- Le Petit Journal, 13, rue du Commandant René Mouchotte. Along with its twin venue in Boulevard St-Michel, this music bar is at the vanguard of Paris’ jazz nights. All the great French names have played here, from Michel Petruccianu to Claude Nougaro. While the musicians are jamming, you can indulge in the high quality cuisine. The acoustics here are truly remarkable and the circular layout of the tables means that everyone has the best seats in the house.
Property price per sqm in the 14th arrondissement of Paris
According to the website Notaires de France, the average price per square meter was €8,170 for the third quarter of 2011. It is currently the eleventh most expensive district of Paris, after the 15th arrondissement.
Population
There were 136 464 inhabitants in the district in 2008.
Useful information
Tourism office in Paris:
www.francetourism.com
Maps of Paris:
www.ign.fr
www.viamichelin.com
Travel from the UK
By air: Easyjet flies from Belfast, Liverpool Newcastle and London Luton to Paris.
Ryanair flies from Shannon, Dublin and Glasgow to Paris.
By rail: Eurostar go from London to Paris in just 2h35.
By car: You can travel by car to Paris by taking the ferries which go from Dover to Calais and then you can take the Motorway to Paris.
You can also cross the channel with the Eurostar and stop at Calais. Then you will travel on the motorway directly to Paris.
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Paris. We have a large network of partners in Paris. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Paris matching your requirements.