The Rue de Rennes
History & Real Estate
Rue de Rennes, Paris 6th
Aliving and emblematic part of Parisian heritage
An emblematic artery of the left bank
In the heart of the 6th arrondissement, the rue de Rennes connects two worlds: that of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, refined and historic, and that of Montparnasse, artistic and modern. This wide and bright artery, which stretches from Boulevard Saint-Germain to the Montparnasse train station, embodies the vitality of the left bank. Its rectilinear perspective, rare in Paris, makes it a structuring and lively axis where residential elegance, quality shops and urban animation are combined.
A street born of the Second Empire
The rue de Rennes is a creation of the Second Empire, designed in the continuity of the Haussmannian excavations to connect the boulevard Saint-Germain to the Rennes station — the current Montparnasse station — from where trains left for Brittany. It owes its name to this former station.
Its excavation began in 1853, first between Notre-Dame-des-Champs and Vaugirard streets, then a second phase in 1866 extended the street to Saint-Germain boulevard. This vast project profoundly modernised the Faubourg Saint-Germain and led to the disappearance of several small old streets.
- The rue de Beurrière,
- The rue du Neuve Guillemin,
- The Rue de l'Egout,
- The Saint Benoît crossroads.
An unusual detail still bears witness to the initial project today: the street was originally intended to be extended to the Seine. Numbers 1 to 40 had therefore been reserved for this portion... which was never carried out, because it would have required the destruction of the Institut de France.
Thus, the first building on the road still bears the number 41, a singularity very well known to Parisian urban planning enthusiasts.
This partial, wide and rectilinear layout, characteristic of the nineteenth-century excavations, made the rue de Rennes a structuring axis of the 6th arrondissement, linking Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Montparnasse while affirming the architectural and commercial modernity of the left bank.
Architecture between tradition and modernity
The rue de Rennes perfectly illustrates the transition between classic Haussmannian Paris and the modernity of the turn of the twentieth century. The buildings that border it display the codes of the Haussmann style: dressed stone facades, continuous balconies on the second and fifth floors, ornate cornices, monumental carriage doors and artistic ironwork. But some buildings stand out for their architectural audacity
Félix Potin Building – 140 rue de Rennes
a major architectural landmarkof the 6th arrondissement, amongthe most remarkable buildings of the rue de Rennes, n° 140, former Félix Potin department store, occupies a singular place. Built in 1904 by the architect Paul Auscher, it is one of the first commercial buildings in Paris to be made of reinforced concrete, mixed with dressed stone – a rare innovation for the time. Its Art Nouveau façade adorned with mosaics, chiseled railings and spectacular bay windows, as well as its corner turret topped with its famous "champagne cork", make it a major visual landmark of the Left Bank. Listed as a Historic Monument, this building bears witness to the golden age of commerce in the district, at a time when the Potin brand was revolutionizing food distribution in Paris. Today restored but still intact in its architectural identity, it alone symbolises the spirit of the sector: heritage, elegance and urban dynamism. An address that tells the story of the district as much as it embodies its real estate prestige.
Emblematic establishments and neighbourhood life
The rue de Rennes is not only a residential axis; It is also a vibrant place to live, animated by its shops, bookshops and cultural institutions.
At 76 rue de Rennes, the L'Arlequin cinema is a true institution of the 7th art: opened in 1934, it established itself as an emblematic arthouse cinema.
A few steps further, at 136 rue de Rennes, is the Fnac Montparnasse, one of the first Fnac stores to open in Paris, a symbol of Left Bank culture.
A street born of the Second Empire
Its excavation began in 1853, first between Notre-Dame-des-Champs and Vaugirard streets, then a second phase in 1866 extended the street to Saint-Germain Boulevard. This vast project profoundly modernized the Saint-Germain suburb and led to the disappearance of several small old streets.
- The rue de Beurrière,
- The rue du Neuve Guillemin,
- The Rue de l'Egout,
- The Saint Benoît crossroads.
An unusual detail still bears witness to the initial project today: the street was originally intended to be extended to the Seine. Numbers 1 to 40 had therefore been reserved for this portion... which was never built, as it would have required the destruction of the Institut de France.
Thus, the first building on the road still bears the number 41, a singularity very well known to Parisian urban planning enthusiasts.
This partial, wide and rectilinear layout, characteristic of the nineteenth-century excavations, made the rue de Rennes a structuring axis of the 6th arrondissement, linking Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Montparnasse while affirming the architectural and commercial modernity of the left bank.
Architecture between tradition and modernity
Félix Potin Building – 140 rue de Rennes
A major architectural landmark in the 6th arrondissement, among the most remarkable buildings on the rue de Rennes, No. 140, the former Félix Potin department store, occupies a singular place. Built in 1904 by the architect Paul Auscher, it stands out as one of the first Parisian commercial buildings in reinforced concrete, mixed with dressed stone – a rare innovation for the time. Its Art Nouveau façade decorated with mosaics, chiselled railings and spectacular bay windows, as well as its corner turret topped with its famous "champagne cork", make it a major visual landmark of the Left Bank. Listed as a Historic Monument, this building bears witness to the district's commercial golden age, at a time when the Potin brand was revolutionizing food distribution in Paris. Today restored but still intact in its architectural identity, it alone symbolises the spirit of the area: heritage, elegance and urban dynamism. An address that tells the story of the district as much as it embodies its real estate prestige.
Emblematic establishments and neighbourhood life
The rue de Rennes is not only a residential axis; it is also a vibrant place to live, animated by its shops, bookshops and cultural institutions.
At 76 rue de Rennes, the L'Arlequin cinema is a true institution of the 7th art: opened in 1934, it established itself as an emblematic arthouse cinema.
A few steps further, at 136 rue de Rennes, is the Fnac Montparnasse, one of the first Fnac stores to open in Paris, a symbol of Left Bank culture.
The real estate market on rue de Rennes:
Prices and trends
Saint-Germain / Sèvres-Babylone sector: the top of the range
Between the Boulevard Saint-Germain and Sèvres-Babylone, luxury Haussmannian buildings dominate: marble fireplaces, moldings, herringbone parquet floors, generous high ceilings and continuous balconies.
These family apartments — 3, 4, 5 rooms and more — embody the elegance of the Left Bank.
Recorded prices (early 2026): between €15,600 and €18,200/m², and commonly higher for properties renovated on a high floor with a balcony or unobstructed view.
Notre-Dame-des-Champs / Montparnasse sector: accessibility
Going up towards Notre-Dame-des-Champs, the landscape remains mostly old: post-Haussmannian, late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, sometimes punctuated by Art Nouveau and Art Deco touches (bow windows, floral decorations, ironwork).
Prices (early 2026): between €13,300 and €15,500/m² depending on the condition, floor and exposure.
A fluid and resilient market
This coherencein the heritage — almost exclusively old properties along the entire axis — maintains a fluid market: well-located, renovated and properly distributed apartments sell quickly. Large family areas remain highly sought after, which sustains values in the long term.
The rue de Rennes thus connects two faces of the 6th: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the historic and cultural centre, and the Notre-Dame-des-Champs / Montparnasse sector, lively and practical. This positioning, added to the architectural quality of the buildings, makes it a safe heritage axis, both for purchase and sale.
Selling or buying an apartment
on the rue de Rennes
A stone's throw from the rue de Rennes, Materre & Mollica Immobilier has been supporting a family clientele in the district and international buyers for more than fifteen years in their purchase, sale and investment projects in the 6th arrondissement.
Our strength: a fine reading of the micro-sectors (from Boulevard Saint-Germain to Sèvres-Babylone, to Notre-Dame-des-Champs) and a control of prices building by building, floor by floor — exposure, views, quality of the commons, plan, renovation potential.
For sellers : reasoned estimate, enhancement strategy (photo, home-staging, work if useful), controlled distribution and contact with qualified buyers already active on the rue de Rennes.
For buyers : (families, pied-à-terre, patrimonial investors): priority access to targeted properties, often in pre-marketing, and tailor-made advice to arbitrate between location, floor, work and liquidity on resale.
Because the rue de Rennes is a market of address – old, rare and demanding – the difference is based on local expertise and the network. This is precisely where we come in: securing your decision, optimising your price and enhancing the value of your assets.
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Consultez notre FAQ
What is the price per m² rue de Rennes in Paris 6th?
Prices vary depending on the area of the street. Between Boulevard Saint-Germain and Sèvres-Babylone, Haussmannian apartments are generally negotiated between €15,600 and €17,200/m², sometimes more for the beautiful renovated floors. Further up the street, towards Notre-Dame-des-Champs, prices vary between €13,300 and €15,500/m² depending on the condition and the floor.
Is it a good area to invest in real estate?
The rue de Rennes is considered a solid heritage axis. The almost exclusivity of old buildings, the scarcity of available properties and the sustained family demand make it a resilient sector. Liquidity on resale is generally good, especially for well-distributed family apartments.
Quelle est la différence entre acheter rue de Rennes côté Saint-Germain ou côté Montparnasse ?
Côté Saint-Germain, on trouve les immeubles haussmanniens les plus emblématiques du 6e : prestations supérieures, prix plus élevés, clientèle internationale fréquente. Côté Montparnasse, l'ambiance est plus vivante et pratique (commerces, transports), avec un bâti de caractère légèrement moins premium mais des prix plus accessibles pour une adresse 6e.
Why does the first building on Rue de Rennes bear the number 41?
The rue de Rennes was initially to be extended to the Seine. Numbers 1 to 40 had been reserved for this section, which was never carried out because it would have involved the demolition of the Institut de France. This singularity is one of the small curiosities well known to lovers of Parisian history.
Which real estate agency specializes in the rue de Rennes?
Materre & Mollica, located at 68 rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is an independent agency specialising in the Left Bank for more than fifteen years. It regularly intervenes on transactions on rue de Rennes and in the adjacent streets of the 6th arrondissement.
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