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Rue du Cherche-Midi
Was an ancient Roman road and now this narrow street has chic designer
boutiques, galleries and cafes. The world-famous baker, Poilane, is
at No. 8. Nearby is the first Parisian Department Store which belies
it name, Bon Marche. It has a fabulous food market ‘Le Grand
Epicerie’
Blvd du Montparnasse
Blvd du Montparnasse is lined with cafes and restaurants which
are evocative of the exciting period when the area was "hip".
The large Art Deco brasserie, 'La Coupole', at #102, which opened
in 1927 with columns decorated by different artists; the famed ëDomeí
at #108, now a luxurious fish restaurant and bar, the 'Rotonde'and
the late-night cafe, ëLe Selectí at #99. Further east along the
boulevard is the legendary ëLa Closerie des Lilasí a favorite with
Picasso and Hemingway, Lenin and Trotsky, and still has a clientele
of politicians and publishers.
There are many good Breton creperies off blvd. Du Montparnasse
as Gare Montparnasse serves the northwest coast of France and in
the 19th century many immigrants from Britanny settled here.
Tour Montparnasse
Around blvd. du Montparnasse are many cinemas and there is a
shopping complex at the foot of Tour Montparnasse. The Tour itself
is rather an ugly but at night the view from the top is absolutely
stunning as it includes the lit Eiffel Tour, which sparkels on
the hour for ten minutes.
Cimetiere du Montparnasse
Buried in the park-like Montparnasse Cemetary, not far from
Gare Montparnasse, are writers Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de
Beauvoir, Baudelaire, and Maupassant; composers Cesar Frank and
Saint-Saens. Captain Alfred Dreyfus is buried here and, more recently,
Serge Gainsbourg and Jean Seberg.
Jardin de l'Atlantique
The Garden is suspended 18 metres above the railway tracks of Gare
Montparnasse. It was built in 1995 is an interesting green oasis
with rest areas, trees and fountains.
Continued...
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