Hugging the left bank of the Seine, the 14th arrondissement is also known as the “Arrondissement de l’Observatoire” after the Paris Observatory. It encompasses most of Montparnasse, which has long been known as an artistic and literary hub, with notable figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Max Ernst and Salvador Dali spending time here.
Things to do in 14th arrondissement
Art enthusiasts can visit Musee Bourdelle, which occupies the former studio of Antoine Bourdelle. It offers an insight into the creativity of Parisian sculptors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with more than 500 works on display. In addition to sculptures and plaster casts from Bourdelle’s studies of Ludwig van Beethoven, there are works by Eugene Delacroix and Auguste Rodin on display.
In the south-east corner of the 14th arrondissement is Parc Montsouris, a picturesque green space established by Napoleon III in the mid-19th century. It features English-style gardens designed by Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand, as well as sprawling lawns, leafy walking trails and a centrepiece lake. Dotting the park are sculptural works by Antoine Etex, Georges Gardet and Costas Valsamis.
You can pay your respects at the graves of Jean-Paul Sartre and Samuel Beckett in the Montparnasse Cemetery, which lies alongside the Giacometti Institute. In addition to the sculptor’s reconstructed studio, the institute hosts changing art exhibitions. Also nearby are the Catacombs of Paris, with these labyrinthine ossuaries housing millions of skeletons.
Getting around 14th arrondissement
Montparnasse is around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Paris and 40 minutes from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Long-distance trains connect to the Gare de Montparnasse while subway services stop at stations throughout the 14th arrondissement. Buses also travel through the area, connecting most of its attractions.