montparnasse tower
montparnasse tower
MONTPARNASSE TOWER
la tour montparnasse
The Montparnasse office block used to be the second tallest building in France (210 metres) after the Eiffel Tower (324 metres), but it was overtaken by the Tour First skyscraper (225 metres) in the La Défense business district in 2011. That doesn’t mean that the view isn’t spectacular, though. Europe’s fastest lift shoots you up to the 59th floor before you know it. Once you’re up there, you can head to the Champagne bar and take in the stunning Parisian panorama from the roof terrace.
My Rating:
The positives:
If you ask me, there is no better way to admire Paris. You can see the Eiffel Tower clearly from here and enjoy a panoramic view from out on the terrace and inside the tower.
The negatives:
The inside area, where you’ll find the café, souvenir shop and small exhibition, feels a bit dated. But they will change that soon - a renovation of the whole tower is planned.
Top Tip:
Tour Montparnasse is another popular attraction during the city’s peak tourist season. Beat the queues by buying your ticket in advance online!
Last Modified: 19.01.2024 | Céline & Jacqueline
Montparnasse Tower
Tickets
My advice
The Paris Digital Pass
Do you want to book the most important sights conveniently with one click? The Louvre, the Montparnasse Tower & a boat tour?
Then this pass is for you!
With just one purchase, you can visit all of it! Choose your desired date – so that you can discover Paris for yourself without stress.
Access Montparnasse Tower or Eiffel Tower -> you choose!
Louvre admission + exhibitions
1-hour cruise on the Seine
Audio guide app for Paris
10% off all subsequent purchases at Tiqets
The details
at a glance
What is there
to see?
Europe’s fastest lift takes you from the ground to the 56th floor in just 38 seconds. Just wow! But you can’t really feel how fast you’re going, so it’s not actually as incredible as it sounds (although I think it may be better that way).
At this level, you have the Café 360° and, as the name suggests, a 360° view of the city. But that’s not even the highest point… Head to the 59th floor to access the outdoor rooftop terrace for a spectacular view of Paris.
From this vantage point you can spot the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame, Les Invalides, Montmartre, the Panthéon and many more iconic landmarks. You can use the touchscreens to learn about the famous monuments. There’s also a low-key exhibition providing a glimpse into the history of the tower inside.
I had the pleasure of visiting the tower when the sun was setting. Darkness slowly enveloped the city and then the lights flickered on. Did you know that the Eiffel Tower is illuminated at night? A late afternoon visit is definitely the way to go, especially if you want to take photos during daylight and at night. There’s a small table by the window in the café. What could be better than making yourself comfy there with a glass of Champagne and watching over the stunning city?
Montparnasse Tower
A bit of history
The Montparnasse office block (210 metres) used to be the second tallest building in France after the Eiffel Tower (324 metres), but it was overtaken by the Tour First skyscraper (225 metres) in the La Défense business district in 2011.
It was hit with controversy from the very beginning. Initial research into an extremely tall office block was published back in 1958, but the plans were met with all sorts of criticism. This caused delays and the building work was not given the green light until 1968. The building finally opened its doors in 1973.
And the controversy continues to this day. In the words of architecture critic Bruno Flierl: “The Tour Montparnasse is one of the dumbest examples of urban development in the whole of Europe. It is trying to compete with the Eiffel Tower with no chance of winning.”
Between 2019 and 2024, the Tour Montparnasse is going to be upgraded with a new glass front and extended upwards.
Official website (FR, EN): www.tourmontparnasse56.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2019 – 2024
With the support of Jacqueline Glarner