As the area around Tour Montparnasse, which
faces Gare Montparnasse, is prestigious, there are many upmarket hotels nearby.
Chain hotels near Gare Montparnasse include Pullman Montparnasse Hotel and
Novotal Paris Montparnasse. You can also book a cheaper Gare Montparnasse hotel
through easytobook.com: Hotel New Parnasse is just one example. You also have
the option to indulge in sophistication and style near Gare Montparnasse in
hotels such as La Maison Montparnasse, Victoria Palace and Sublim Eiffel.
Gare Montparnasse is a historical and
important transportation hub in Paris, surrounded by hotels, restaurants,
offices and recreational facilities. The first train station built on this site
in 1840 collapsed under the weight of its cast iron roof within a few months.
The next station was designed by Victor Lenoir and was completed in 1852.
During the Second World War, when Allied armies were advancing on Paris, Adolf
Hitler ordered the German military governor of Paris, General von Choltitz, to
destroy everything in the city, including the train stations. However, von
Choltitz disobeyed orders and surrendered to the Free French army at the Gare
de Montparnasse. In the years following the war, the station and the
surrounding neighborhood were entirely rebuilt. Gare Montparnasse now operates
underneath Jardin Atlantique, which is the site of Musée Jean Moulin.
Visitors to Paris can use Gare Montparnasse to
reach destinations in the west and southwest of France, including Nantes,
Tours, Rennes and Bordeaux. The station has a high speed moving walkway, and
there are bus and Metro connections to downtown Paris. The interior is
thoroughly modern and automated. Much of the formerly open rail yard has been
covered over by a building bearing offices and gardens. The main hall is
decorated with op-art by Victor Vasarely. The station also holds a chapel
dedicated to Saint Bernard, in which a railroad tie is part of the lectern. Those
who are staying in hotels near the famous Tour Montparnasse will be able to
enjoy convenient transport connections throughout Paris city centre as well as
to destinations further afield.