... And our most memorable night happened to be on the top of the Tour Montparnasse.
**Montparnasse- Moche-Parnasse**
To summarize, Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) is the one ugly building in the middle of Paris. Its construction took place from 1969 to 1972. Its 58 floors are ... Read review
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Paris Montparnasse train station and 2 metro stations from Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Easy Access to the France Telecom Head Office Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition centre as well as Unesco and the Pasteur Institut The Holiday Inn Paris Montparnasse Pasteur hotel is close to the Famous Saint Germain des Pres Boulevard where you can enjoy a typical french Dinner or visit various well known Departement Store Printemps Galeries Lafayette Bon Marche Eiffel Tower the Invalides national monument Paris and Eiffel Tower View available from some rooms at the hotel ideal for Families aswell since some of the rooms can host up to 4 personsThe Holiday Inn Paris Montparnasse Pasteur Hotel also offers the following services: WIFI internet connection in each room as well as Lobby Bar and Meeting Room High speed internet access Room service Private underground parking safe deposit box At the Holiday Inn Paris Montparnasse Pasteur Hotel the 73 M² meeting room with natural daylight can host up to 30 people
A review by Pomcamgirl on Tour Montparnasse, Paris September 6th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Prices
Average
Transport links
Excellent
Advantages:
The best view of Paris
Disadvantages:
It's ugly
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
- Introduction: ** Paris, je t'aime **
Paris is where I grew up, but like most Parisians, I never really visited anything there, until I had to make other people visit it.
This is when I really realized it was a great romantic city. I know of only very few people who didn't enjoy their stay there. I believe if you go with the right person, and have a clue what to do there, you will simply have the time of your life. It's simply beautiful, and there's so much to do!
Last June, I took my boyfriend there with me for the second time. Having seen all the main tourist attractions the year before, I worked really hard to make sure the trip would be at least as good as the previous one.
And I guess my hard work paid off: we had the loveliest time. And our most memorable night happened to be on the top of the Tour Montparnasse.
**Montparnasse- Moche-Parnasse**
To summarize, Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) is the one ugly building in the middle of Paris. Its construction took place from 1969 to 1972. Its 58 floors are mainly occupied by offices. It is 210 meters high, which makes it France's tallest skyscraper. And in my opinion (and most people's I am sure), it is also the ugliest. So if it is that awful to look at, you might be wondering what is so good about visiting it. Here's my theory.
**Tour Montparnasse Vs Tour Eiffel**
The Eiffel Tower looks great and magnificent. When visiting Paris for the first time, you must absolutely go to the top and admire the splendid view of Paris. There's only one downside to it, I would say. From there, you can see everything... to the exception of the Eiffel Tower itself. Isn't it a waste, after all? You've made it to the top and are taking pictures of Paris that won't even feature its most famous monument!
On the other hand, on top of the Tour Montparnasse, you can get the greatest view of the Eiffel Tower, and what's more, that ugly nondescript skyscraper is nowhere to be seen... as you are standing on top of it. Simply amazing!
**How to get there, when to go, how much does it cost**
Getting there couldn't be easier. By metro, get off at Montparnasse Bienvenue, or any station around it (Edgar Quinet, St Placide, Notre Dame des Champs). Once outside, just look around you, and head towards the tall and ugly building.
Tour Montparnasse is open every day of the year!
From April to the end of September, from 9.30 to 23.30 and From October to the end of March, from 9.30 to 22.30 - 23.00 on week ends.
It will cost you 9 Euros to get to the top, 6 Euros 50 if you are a student or under 20. Don't hesitate to lie, they do not seem to check for IDs. Under 6 go free and children pay 4 Euros.
**Our Experience**
We did not know whether to go by day or by night, so I chose to try at sunset, and that turned out to be a great idea. It was summer, and sunset was around 10.
We made our way to the skyscraper, joined the tiny queue. We waited no longer than 2 minutes. How often would this happen at the Eiffel Tower? Haha, never.
We entered the elevator, and when the doors closed, we were propelled to the 56th floor. The 38-second lift was really impressive. It is the fastest in Europe, and it went so fast the doors were shaking!
As we got off, we entered a large room, with panoramic windows all around. This is floor 56. From there, you can walk around and look on the boards for the different monuments. There are interactive exhibitions and films about the Tower to be seen. You can also get a drink, or even have a meal in "Le Ciel de Paris": Europe's highest restaurant. It is meant to be quite good, and not too pricey (Set menus for lunch start at 30 Euros).
However, we were so eager to get to the outside terrace that we did not spend much time there and climbed the few steps to the very top.
It was quite windy outside, but what we saw made us forget about it straight away. The view was AMAZING. The Eiffel Tower was sparkling for the first time of the night (every hour, on the hour: A must-see!). Dusk was settling in and slowly, all the famous building started to light up. We took millions of pictures and watched silently.
This was one of my most romantic moments in Paris. There is no word to really describe it.
The best part was that, on that night, France was playing Brazil in the world cup. And as France won, we heard like a massive cheer, from all around. It just seemed that we could hear the whole country expressing their happiness. Cars started going again and fireworks started everywhere. I couldn't believe how lucky we were to have been there just in that moment. Then, in the middle of all that ecstasy, the Eiffel Tower started sparkling again. Truly amazing, really.
We were asked to leave at 11.20, and so we did, reluctantly. If the weather is good and not too chilly, plan to be spend a long time there, it is worth it. Go to the Eiffel at day and save this one for the night. Get there at sunset and stay there until you have seen every building light up, and the Eiffel Tower sparkle at least once or twice. Go there on special occasions, maybe on the 14th of July, to have a good glance at the fireworks, or any day you think the view will be even better than usual.
**My conclusion**
Just GO! Don't wait. Prices are not too bad, the lift is impressive, there's no crowd as not many people know about how good it is, and trust me, I have now been on top of nearly every single main building in Paris, and this is by far the best. The view is wonderful, you won't get squished and you'll be able to watch the Eiffel Tower in all its splendour. That's just priceless.
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The other tower Review ofTour Montparnasse, Parisby
edward_stapleton
Advantages: Entrance fee, panoramic views Disadvantages: Extortionate fees for services and gifts, unimpressive external appearance
...decided to go to 'La Tour Montparnasse'. This decision was mainly based on the fact that the queues for the Eiffel Tower were huge; they were almost as big as the tower itself! My family and I decided that we would not wait for such a long time to travel up the famous tower; after all, we had other things to see. We could actually see Montparnasse from the Eiffel Tower, so that could have determined our fate!
So, we travelled to Montparnasse on ... ...ou nous pouvons trouver la Tour Montparnesse?" She, of course, giggled and told us that we were right underneath it. We followed the path around a corner and looked up to see a monolithical structure. Of course we were impressed by the sheer size of the building, but one couldn't help but to think of how ugly and serious it looked. You will read it is mainly dominated by offices, but when you enter the building, you don't see anything of this. I ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Views, views, views. Disadvantages: Totally bland building, no wheelchair access to the very top.
Montparnasse Tower has probably got to be one of the most bland skyscrapers built, so why on earth would you want to visit it. Well, with Paris built on relatively flat land combined with the Tower being built on a relatively small hill just on the edge of the inner city limits (for no tall buildings have been allowed to be built inside these limits) you get the most awesome view of Paris. It’s even better than the view from the Eiffel Tower because ... ...the top you have to go via a lift which although is probably not the quickest in the world, it’s certainly up there as being one of the fastest. From what I remember it does 40(?) floors in 38 seconds. The ride is smooth without any apparent flashing lights to indicate which floor you’re whizzing past. When you exit the lift you enter a none to unspacious viewing room which houses large photographic images of the various stages of the Towers construction. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: amazing panoramic view Disadvantages: roof very windy
...we visited it was La Tour Montparnasse that offered the greatest view of all; better than the Eiffel tower and without the queues! It is positioned about two miles south of the Eiffel tower. La Tour Montparnasse is a 689ft tall skyscraper with an express lift which takes you to the top in a matter of seconds. It has 59 floors, 57 of which are used as office space but the other two are open to the public for viewing the city. You can even venture ... ...great. I really would recommend La Tour Montparnasse to anybody who visits Paris. It is only about ten euros per person and you can stay at the top for as long as you want. The views are the best in Paris and there is even a café at the top. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...jet washed to remove dirt and discolouration.
Visitor access is via a pedestrian tunnel which goes under the dangerous roundabout. Once inside the Arc de Triomphe you are left with a choice - do you walk the 284 steps to the top or do you get the lift and walk just the final 46. Being a man I wanted to walk but my girlfriend was adamant we should get the busy lift. Once at the top the view is well worth it, great views of Paris, especially the length of the Champs-Elysees which is great at night because you get the red and white effect created by the cars brakelights and headlights which makes a great photo.
If you are after the best view of Paris then you will not find it at the Arc de Triomphe, as the Eiffel tower and La TourMontparnasse are much taller and as a consequence offer a better, more spectacular view. But the Arc de...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Fun, makes you want to go back Disadvantages: Can be tiring, still quite a lot of walking
...just squeezed in and not particularly clean or appealing. Still a welcome relief before going back to the station and our next visit. Whilst ambling back to the station we spotted a bargain bookshop selling new and second-hand multi-lingual books, and also racks of postcards at 12 for 2 Euros, which was a real bargain. This area seems really cosmopolitan and definitely cheaper than many of the more obvious tourist traps.
TourMontparnasse
We have been to Paris before, so had already been to the Eiffel Tower, endured the queues and crammed into the lift to get to the top, but this time a more civilised aerial view was planned. We alighted from the metro in the business district at Montparnasse Bienvenue and walked the short distance to the entrance of the tower building. For a 10 Euros adult entry a high speed lift whips you up 56...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: perfect city to be inspired by architecture, culture, shopping and fine cuisine Disadvantages: just too many tourists, hope this review wont bring too many extra ones
...of alleys. And right through the middle flows the Seine [...], filled up with isles, bridges and boats."
Today Hugo would maybe compare Paris to a black whole which absorbs everything around it. Paris constantly expands, and numerous districts have been added, but his orientation still applies to the city centre. And the roof of Notre Dame is a perfect place to overlook the roofs of Paris. Other spectacular panoramic views can be enjoyed from Montmartre, TourMontparnasse, and the roofs of the Centre Pompidou and the Musée d'Orsay.
Rather than exploring Paris from the centre, today it may be more helpful to seek orientation in an east-west axis along the Seine, reaching from La Defense in the west (built 100 years after his death) to the Bastille in the east, along the Champs Elysées and Rue de Rivoli. Then add Place Pigalle and Montmartre...
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