Exploring Montparnasse - Suggestions Please
 

We're in Paris and would like to spend some time exploring Montparnasse which we've never done. I would like to visit the Jean Moulin Museum and the cemetery, but really would love to have any suggestions from those of you who are familiar with Montparnasse so we don't miss things that would help us get a good sense of this quartier.

The cemetery is lovely. Just south of it is rue Daguerre, a market street, I recommend exploring.

To the northwest of the cemetery is the Bourdelle Museum (sculpture) and the Post Office Museum. I'm not sure if they're strictly in Montparnasse but they are close to the cemetery and both are interesting. The Post Office museum has an unusual assortment of post cards.

and, of course, you must visit the great cafes/bars of the area. la Couple, Le Dome, La Closerie de Lilas, the Rosebud, etc.

bmk

On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, there is a food market on the boulevard Edgar Quinet. On Sundays, there is a craft market there.

On the rue du Montparnasse there are several creperies. People from Brittany settled in the area around the Gare Montparnasse and opened creperies there. I have tried the Creperie Josselin on this street and enjoyed it.

Notre Dame du Travail has interesting architecture. There is a parc de l'Atlantique behind the train station.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623299527007 etc.

And you must go up the Tour Montparnasse for the view, and maybe have a drink at Le Ciel.

Ooops! Just read the recently posted thread about Le Ciel being closed for renovations. Guess you can take that off the list.

bookmarking

Yes, Le Ciel is closed for renovations until next year, but the viewing platform on the tower is still open, so by all means do that on a fine day for an alternative view of Paris (ie not just from the Eiffel Tower).

Thanks so much everyone. It looks like we'll have a lot to see.

When you go up to the Jardin Atlantique and the Jean Moulin Museum your ticket will also give you access to the adjacent General LeClerc Museum.

Every town and city in France has a street named after him so now's the time to find out just who he was and what he did. ;^)

The Catacombs, an eerie experience, has its entrance at place Denfert Rochereau, just east of cemetery.

bookmarking .. with thanks for the great info!

Montparnasse was the center of art and free thinkers during the 'Crazy Years' - les Années Folles in the 30s. Famous from that time, the cafés La Coupole and La Rotonde are still there (I think). And there are many other lesser known places, but they are just as good and maybe better. It is a lively area, not that touristy and quite pleasant. Good food, too: there are some great open-air restaurants on Boulevard du Montparnasse.

If you like photography, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is an interesting stop: http://www.henricartierbresson.org/index_en.htm

There's a really good wine shop not far from there. Check it out at http://www.cavebalthazar.com/presentation.php

I almost always stay in Montparnasse. Of course, the cemetery if there is anyone buried there of particular interest to you. I was interested in some of the composers and writers/artists. There are several famous people (including Sartre and Beauvoir, of course). I don't think it's interesting otherwise, you ought to have a plan. I do like Fondation Cartier-Bresson, but I really like photography. The Montparnasse museum is okay, but not a must-see, mildly amusing. I really did like the Postal Museum, though http://www.ladressemuseedelaposte.fr/

The Bourdelle was okay, again, I wouldn't put it at the top of museums I've visited. There is the Zadkine, also, which I haven't visited yet http://www.paris.fr/loisirs/musees-e...-zadkine/p6471

I like some of the interestings sites that were residences of famous people or neighborhoods, but you kind of have to know your history or bios of people to know them (like Man Ray, de Beauvoir, etc., the ateliers), or get a specialized guidebook. There are some in French of each quarter that are often sold in news kiosks or local bookstores.

Rue Daguerre is worth going to if you like those street markets, and of course the catacombs are down at the bottom of the cemetery at Denfert Rochereau RER/metro stop (which I think is sort of the southern boundary of Montparnasse).

This is a good summary of the area and its interests http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Fre...ntparnasse.htm

would Montparnasse be a good place to visit on a Monday?

I've managed to organise a 3 day trip to Paris that ends on a Monday - duh.

perhaps i should start a "What to do on a Monday in Paris" thread!

It doesn't really make any difference what day it is except for the museums so you'd have to check their schedules if you cared about that. I believe most minor museums are closed on Mondays in Paris, including all of the ones in Montparnasse, as well as the Fondation Cartier Bresson and the Catacombes. I think the postal museum is open Mon. but no other one. IN sort, it would not be a good day unless you only cared about walking around the neighborhood and seeing the cemetery, I suppose rue Daguerre is running every day more or less, although in Paris a lot of shops are closed on MOndays, also, and the ones on that street are probably no exception.

The Bourdelle and Zadkins are closed Mon.

well, Christina, as the minor museums [which I believe includes the musee d'orsay, but not the louvre] AND the catacombs, AND the shops are shut, that doesn't leave a lot does it?

hence my problem.