{"id":33548,"date":"2024-08-06T17:48:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T17:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=33548"},"modified":"2025-11-30T19:48:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T19:48:01","slug":"a-guide-to-visiting-montparnasse-what-to-see-and-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-visiting-montparnasse-what-to-see-and-do\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide To Visiting Montparnasse: What To See and Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stretching across parts of the 6th, 14th and 15th arrondissements on Rive Gauche (the Left Bank of the Seine), Montparnasse is easily recognized by having Paris\u2019 only inner city skyscraper, the Tour Montparnasse. It\u2019s also known as the historic quarter whose traditional caf\u00e9s attracted many artists and authors over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the quarter isn\u2019t huge, it\u2019s crammed full with things to see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quarter of creativity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Montparnasse\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Montparnasse was a haven for literary greats and famous artists during the early 20th century. It attracted names such as Ernest Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and Gertrude Stein from the literary world, and philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Painters like Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Marc Chagall also flocked to the area, contributing to the bohemian atmosphere, which you can still feel today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caf\u00e9 society in Montparnasse<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Jean-Paul
Jean-Paul Sartre’s table at La Closerie des Lilas (Credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The caf\u00e9s of Montparnasse, stretching along Boulevard du Montparnasse, like La Rotonde, Le D\u00f4me, and La Coupole, served as intellectual salons where artistic minds exchanged ideas and philosophies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These personalities transformed the area into a hotbed of creativity, inspiring one another and influencing the course of modern art and literature. Their work and ideas continue to resonate through generations, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the 20th century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a reader, writer, or artist, there\u2019s nothing quite like sitting on the terraces of these cafes being inspired by their history. To feel really close to your favorite writer, head straight to La Closerie des Lilas<\/a>, where tables have little metal signs on them telling you exactly who sat where once upon a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get an art fix<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Musee
Mus\u00e9e Bourdelle (Credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s no surprise that this creative quarter also offers an array of art museums that celebrate diverse artistic expressions. Here are a few of my favorites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n