Montparnasse, Administrative quarter in 14th arrondissement, France
Montparnasse is an administrative quarter in the 14th arrondissement of Paris that extends into neighboring districts and sits around Boulevard du Montparnasse and Rue de Rennes. The area shows a mix of postwar high-rises and 19th-century buildings with narrow streets and open squares.
In the early 20th century, the quarter shifted from a quiet area with studios to a meeting point for painters, sculptors, and writers from across Europe. After the Second World War, a major redevelopment changed the southern center with new high-rises and a train station.
The quarter keeps cafes where artists and writers once gathered, though today locals also stop by for morning coffee and newspapers. Brass plaques on some building fronts mark where famous painters or poets lived and worked.
Several metro lines connect the quarter to the rest of the city, and Montparnasse train station sits in the southern part. The wide boulevards work well for walking, while smaller side streets offer quieter routes.
The name comes from Mount Parnassus in Greece, which students in the 17th century used as a nickname for a small hill where they recited verses. That hill disappeared later during construction work, but the name remained for the whole quarter.
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