The 14th arrondissement of Paris ( ), officially named arrondissement de l'Observatoire (; meaning "arrondissement of the Observatory"; named after the Paris Observatory), is one of the 20 arrondissements of Paris, the capital city of France.

It is situated on the left bank of the River Seine, containing most of the Montparnasse district. Although today Montparnasse is best known for its skyscraper, Tour Montparnasse, as well as its major railway terminus, Gare Montparnasse, both are only partially located in the neighbouring 15th arrondissement. The district has traditionally been home to many artists as well as a significant Breton community, which arrived at the beginning of the 20th century upon the creation of the Montparnasse railway terminus.

Notable sites in the 14th arrondissement include the universities of Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris and the Paris School of Economics, which is located near Parc Montsouris, Stade Charléty and the Catacombs of Paris.

Since 2014, the mayor of the 14th arrondissement is Carine Petit.

Geography

thumb|250px|The quarters of the 14th arrondissement

The land area of this arrondissement is 5.621km<sup>2</sup> (2.17 sq. miles; 1,389 acres).

The arrondissement consists of four quarters:

  • Quartier Montparnasse (53)
  • Quartier Parc-de-Montsouris (54)
  • Quartier Petit-Montrouge (55)
  • Quartier Plaisance (56)

Demography

The 14th arrondissement attained its peak population in 1954 when it had 181,414 inhabitants. It continues to have a high density of both population and business activity with 132,844 inhabitants and 71,836 jobs as of the last census, in 1999.

Historical population

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Population

!Density<br />(inh. per km<sup>2</sup>)

</tr>

|-

|1872

|69,611

|12,384

|-

|1954 <small>(peak of population)</small>

|181,414

|32,274

|-

|1962

|178,149

|31,693

|-

|1968

|167,093

|29,727

|-

|1975

|149,137

|26,532

|-

|1982

|138,596

|24,657

|-

|1990

|136,574

|24,297

|-

|1999

|132,844

|23,634

|-

|2009

|137,189

|24,324

|-

|2010

|138,299

|24,521

|-

|2015

|139,992

|24,821

|-

|2021

|136,368

|24,178

|}

Immigration

Economy

Aéroports de Paris has its head office in the arrondissement. In addition Société d'exploitation de l'hebdomadaire Le Point (SEBDO Le Point), the company that operates Le Point, has its head office in the arrondissement.

SNCF, the French rail company, formerly had its head office in Montparnasse and the 14th arrondissement.

Government and infrastructure

La Santé Prison, operated by the Ministry of Justice, is in the arrondissement.

The head office of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), the French international schooling network, is located in the arrondissement.

Culture

The International Astronomical Union head office is located on the second floor of the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris. The Théâtre Rive Gauche is located at 6, rue de la Gaîté. Several contemporary art galleries are also located in the 14th arrondissement, such as the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, the Musée Adzak and the Gallery of Montparnasse.

Cityscape

Places of interest

thumb|[[Sainte-Anne Hospital Center, gate No. 1, .]]

  • Paris Catacombs museum
  • Cimetière du Montparnasse
  • Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain
  • Gare Montparnasse
  • Michael Servetus statue
  • Montparnasse area
  • Musée Lenine
  • Musée Jean Moulin
  • Paris Observatory
  • La Santé Prison
  • Tour Montparnasse
  • Sainte-Anne Hospital Center
  • Notre-Dame-du-Travail, Paris
  • Saint-Dominique Church (Paris)
  • Notre-dame-du-Rosaire, Paris

Main streets and squares

thumb|Pedestrian street in the 14th arrondissement of Paris

  • Rue de l'Arrivée
  • Place Denfert-Rochereau
  • Rue Delambre
  • Rue du Départ
  • Place Edgar Quinet
  • Avenue du Maine
  • Boulevard du Montparnasse
  • Boulevard Raspail

References