Paris 14th District
The 14th Arrondisement is a gem arrondisement that has preserved the very traditional French charm of a Parisian neighbourhood. It is one of the more recent additions to the riches of the city of Lights. This quarter bustles with street life with plenty of typical Parisian cafés, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and surrounding tourist attractions.
This district is home to the Montparnasse tower, and the Gaîté area, where you can find numerous theatres, bars, clubs and lots of cinemas. Gaîté neighbours with the ‘brasseries’ area of ‘Boulevard de Montparnasse’, where a lot of the great American writers (Hemmingway, H. Miller, G Stein…) used to spend hours of unwinded literary conversation in the various infamous Cafés: Le Dome (1897), La Rotonde (1911), La Coupole (1927)…
Denfert Rochereau and the Paris Catacombs
The apartment is also very close to the transport hub area of Denfert Rochereau, from where you can catch a coach, bus or RER to many diffrerent destinations in Paris, including the airports. The Catacombs are just across from the Denfert train station and as with many other attractions in Paris, it is best to get there early to avoid the queues.
Restplace for French celebrities
Further down towards Boulevard de Montparnasse, and only 10 mins from our apartments it’s the Montparnasse cemetery, where you can visit Baudelaire’s bedsite and several other known French famous people: Dreyfus, Gainsbourg, Hachette, Larousse, Sartre and many more.
Local Artists abound
Some of the best touristic photo opportunities in the 14th happen when you walk around the many little cobbled-stone streets round the quarters like Pernety, Alesia, Reny Coty and Moulin Vert. You will spot half hidden ‘villas’ or completely private houses, named after famous artists or for artist communities. You will also spot plenty of artists workshops, some of whom open doors to the local residents organising practical handcraft workshops. There is no lack for music artists either, some of whom find their way playing in some of the bigger gig places in the quarter like l’Entrepot.
Nearby Parks
If you are looking for a parc to do some jogging, walk, play ‘petanque’ or ‘ picque-nicque’ in the nice weather, then your choice is Luxemburg Gardens if you are on the tourist track. It is only about 20 mins walk to Luxembourg Gardens from either of our apartments. The alternative choice to Luxembourg could be ‘Parc Montsouris’, if you choose to blench with the locals in the 14th arrondisement.
Montparnasse Tower
In case you wonder if the Eiffel Tower or the Luxembourg Gardens are near the apartments, the answer is yes. We are only a 20 mins bus ride away to the Eiffel Tower. Bus 38 takes you there from where you will have excellent views of the Tower from the hill at Place de Catalonya. However I do recommend you to go up the Montparnasse Tower instead
The main reasons why I prefer the views at the Montparnasse Tower instead of the those on the Eiffel Tower are the following:
- from the rooftop terrace at the Montparnasse Tower, you get a 360° view of Paris whereas from the Eiffel Tower you only see Paris from the West side, missing a lot of sights
- from Montparnasse you actually get to see and take photos of the Eiffel Tower, which is great
- It’s cheaper. For €6 you can get the best views of Paris, whereas going up the Eiffel Tower will cost you €13
- No queues
Want to Find out more about the 14th arrondisement?
If you like what you’ve read so far about the 14 district, we would like to encourage you to visit our blog. We have useful information to all guests: ranging from the best restaurant to brunch in the area onto the most live music spots and more general information like cinemas VO.
Amenities in the immediate vicinity
Whether you choose to stay in our studio apartment or the one bedroom, you will be at a stone’s throw distance from the Town Hall of the 14, one of the most social areas in the 14th district. There are several local ‘boulangeries’ where you can buy the morning croissants and bread. There are also many local groceries and chain supermarkets plus herbal and organic food shops and local markets.
Within a few minutes walk you have the trendy and popular rue Daguerre. This fruit and vegetable pedestranised market street has preserve all its charm along the years. There are fish shops, delicatessen groceries, regional food shops and a variety of cafés and restaurants open day and evening.
There are other market areas where you can also find value for money french produce. Lists of local amenities incl. good restaurants and places of interest will be provided on the first day of your stay in the apartment.
If you would like to read more about Paris and its different arrondisements, this blog about Paris and the different quartiers is very interesting.
How far will I be from the most popular tourist sights or areas?
Our apartments are only a 20 mins journey by Metro line 13/bus 28 journey to the 7th Arrondisement, where you can visit the Eiffel Tower, Hôtel des Invalides, Musée de l’Armée or Musée de Rodin.
Bus 68 takes you Musée d’Orsey by le Seine river in 25 mins. Bus 38 will take you to Luxembourg gardens in 10 mins or the Notre Dame cathedral in l’le de la Cité in 20 mins. Metro line 12 takes you to le Sacré Coeur in Montmartre in 35 minutes. If you prefer walking or jogging, the apartment is close enough to Luxembourg Gardens and Parc Montsouris.
Many buses, 3 subway lines, steps away, will bring you straight to 4 Railway stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare Montparnasse and Gare St Lazare), to all tourist (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Le Louvre museum…) and shopping (Galeries Lafayette, Avenue Montaigne, Rue du Faubourg St Honoré…) areas.
Business centers, including “La Défense”, are within a 35 minute subway ride.
The 14 district is conveniently located in the centre south of Paris so you will not have a problem to get on or off the beaten tourist track.
How to get to the apartment
The real bonus is that the apartment is only 30 minutes away to Orly airport by bus or 15 minutes by taxi, which makes it hassle-free to arrive and leave Paris .
My Paris apartment is in an ideal location as it is only a short walk away to one of the main transport hubs in Paris : Denfert Rochereau station.
From Orly Airport (the most convenient)
By Taxi: take an official Paris taxi outside the terminal and be home in less than 20 minutes. Average fare: €20-25
By Bus: take the OrlyBus to Denfert Rocheareau. Journey time: 30 mins. Fare: €6.00
By train: Take OrlyVal train to ‘Antony’ train station then change to RER train line B to Denfert Rochereau. Journey time: 45 mins. Fare €9.00
From Charles de Gaulle Airport
By Taxi: journey time: 45 minutes. Fare varies from €40 to 60 depending on traffic around the ‘peripherique’ circular road.
By Bus: take either the Airport shuttle bus or the AirFrance shuttle to Montparnasse, then make the 10 mins walk to the apartment
By train: this is the best option from CDG airport. Take RER line B heading southbound and get off at Denfert Rochereau.
From Gare du Nord
By taxi: Average journey time: 20 minutes. Fare: €15
By metro: take line 4 towards Porte D’Orleans and get off at Mouton Duvernet, then walk to the apartment
By train: Take RER line B heading southbound and get off at Denfert Rochereau.
By Bus: take bus number 38 outside the station towards Porte d’Orleans and get off in General Leclerc. Journey time: 30 unless rush hour. €1.00
From all other Train stations
Please check the RATP website, for all Paris transport needs for the best way to arrive or send me an email requesting further details to arrive upon reservation.