visit paris from the historic Montparnasse district
Montparnasse
In the 17th century, Mont Parnasse was named after an artificial hill made of rubble and considered to be Apollo's domain, as the place was ideal for amorous adventures.
People have always come to Montparnasse to party; it's a place to meet and socialize. It was during the Roaring Twenties (1919-1931) that the Montparnasse district gained fame as the center of Paris's artistic, literary and cultural life.
Today, Montparnasse remains a place of leisure, with its legendary cafés - Le Dôme, La Coupole, Le Select, La Closerie des Lilas, etc. - its restaurants, cinemas and theaters, while at the same time becoming a major business district, of which the Tour Montparnasse is the emblem.
Theater
A word of advice: first visit the Kiosque Montparnasse (parvis de la gare Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement), where you can buy tickets at half-price for the same evening from private and public theaters in Paris and its suburbs (open Tuesday to Saturday, 12:30 to 8pm, and Sunday, 12:30 to 4pm).
Then it's on to rue de la Gaîté and its magnificent theaters: Bobino (at no. 20), Théâtre de la Comédie Italienne (at no. 17), Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse (at no. 26), Théâtre Montparnasse (at no. 31) and Théâtre Rive Gauche (at no. 6).
Music
Perhaps you'd rather listen to some music? No problem. For jazz, head to Le Petit Journal Montparnasse (13 rue du Commandant Mouchotte, 14th arrondissement), where you can enjoy swinging jazz while dining or sipping a drink in an English pub setting. An institution.
When it comes to nightclubs, discerning nightclubbers have no hesitation in choosing l'Enfer (34, rue du Départ, 14th arrondissement) for its wild parties and Sunday morning afters (Thursday to Sunday, from 11 p.m. to dawn), and Dancing de la Coupole, which now hosts some of the capital's most popular electronic and salsa nights. And don't forget to mark your calendars for the regular Slam (rhythmic poetry) evenings.
Finally, for accordion aficionados, there's one of the capital's only specialized stores: Paris Accordéon (80, rue Daguerre, 14th). On the program: sale of new and second-hand instruments, workshop-restaurant, musette lessons, artists' meetings and temporary exhibitions.
A museum district
If you're a fan of contemporary art, head for the Fondation Cartier (261, bd Raspail, 14th arrondissement). Here you'll find the very best in contemporary art (paintings, sculptures, photographs...). And don't miss the “Soirées Nomade”: the most cutting-edge artists (music, dance, theater) meet here every Thursday evening.
The Musée Bourdelle (16-18, rue Antoine Bourdelle, 15th arrondissement) is another place with a different atmosphere. Here, as you stroll through the house, garden and studio of the famous sculptor, you'll come across a jumble of over 500 sublime works. An intimate atmosphere.
For stamp enthusiasts or the simply curious, visit the Musée de la Poste (34 bd de Vaugirard, 15th arrondissement). There are stamps of all kinds: valuable, unusual, colorful and international. And don't forget the letter carriers' uniforms, the old letterboxes, the 15,000 volumes of the Library and the 150,000 images representing all French postage stamps.
Finally, in the Jardin Atlantique - located above the station's railroad tracks - you'll find the Mémorial du Maréchal Leclerc and the Musée Jean Moulin, which retraces the career of these two great men and hosts superb temporary exhibitions on the theme of the Second World War.
Cinema
Here are the main cinemas in the area:
Bienvenüe Montparnasse: 8, rue de l'Arrivée,
Bretagne: 73, bd du Montparnasse
Gaumont Parnasse: 3, rue d'Odessa
L'Entrepôt: 7-9, rue Francis-de-Pressensé
Les Montparnos: 16-18, rue d'Odessa
Lucernaire: 53, rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs
MK2 Parnasse: 11, rue Jules-Chaplain
Miramar: 3, rue du Départ
Sept Parnassiens: 98, bd du Montparnasse
UGC Montparnasse: 83, bd du Montparnasse
UGC Rotonde: 103, bd du Montparnasse
