The Rue de Rennes
History & Real Estate

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 late creation in Haussmann's Paris
Unlike other major Parisian arteries, the rue de Rennes is a relatively recent creation. Its route was envisaged as early as the 1850s as part of the Haussmann Plan, but its implementation was spread over several decades. It was initially intended to connect Luxembourg to the Montparnasse train station, in order to open up the south of the 6th arrondissement. The first section, between the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, was opened during the Second Empire; the rest was not completed until the end of the nineteenth century.

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: this is the case of the remarkable building at 140 rue de Rennes, a former Félix Potin department store, built in 1904 by Paul Auscher. This iconic Art Nouveau building captivates with its ornate façade, corner turret and colourful mosaics.

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.

Real estate on rue de Rennes
A contrasting market that is sought after by families

Between the Boulevard Saint-Germain and Sèvres-Babylone, luxury Haussmannian buildings dominate : marble fireplaces, moldings, herringbone parquet floors, high ceilings and long balconies. These family apartments — 3, 4, 5 rooms and more — embody the elegance of the left bank and are commonly priced from €15,620 to €17,200/m², and easily beyond for renovated properties on a high floor, with a balcony or unobstructed view.

Going up towards Notre-Dame-des-Champs and the Montparnasse outlet, the landscape remains mostly old: post-Haussmannian, late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, sometimes punctuated by Art Nouveau / Art Deco touches (bow windows, floral decorations, ironwork). Here, there are more rational surfaces (3-4 rooms through, beautiful 2 rooms) in buildings with character, at prices generally between €13,330 and €15,460/m² depending on the condition, the floor and the exposure.

This heritage coherence — almost exclusively old properties along the entire axis — maintains a fluid and tense market: well-located, renovated and properly distributed apartments are selling quickly. Family-owned supermarkets remain highly sought after, which sustainably supports values.

The rue de Rennes thus connects two faces of the 6th: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the historical 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 for both buying and selling.

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