The legend of Montparnasse was born during the Roaring Twenties when artists set up their studios there, making it the cultural and intellectual center of the Left Bank. Even today, their presence can still be felt in some of the neighborhood’s iconic bistros, public spaces, and shops. The Hôtel Odessa was fortunate to be part of this rich history.
Indeed, at the beginning of the 20th century, the building already housed a hotel that could boast central heating, electricity, and hot water on every floor. Situated in a district steeped in history with a rich cultural past, Hôtel Odessa Montparnasse strives to preserve the authenticity and warmth of its typically Parisian surroundings.
In the 1920s, artists settled in our neighborhood, making it the intellectual and artistic center of the time. The nightlife in the bars and clubs of the era became legendary. Among those who contributed to the fame of 'Montparnasse by night' were Soutine, Modigliani, Léger, Braque, Chagall, Zadkine, Brancusi, and of course, Foujita… Not to mention the famous 'Kiki de Montparnasse', who was Man Ray’s muse and the favored model of the 'Montparnos.'
Writers such as Hemingway, Faulkner, Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Sartre were also part of this vibrant artistic scene.
Montparnasse is also known for its Breton population, which arrived by train over the decades, settling in the area and opening numerous delicious crêperies around the hotel. The first train station stood on Place de Rennes, now Place du 18 Juin 1940, where the current shopping gallery is located. When leaving the station, Breton women wearing their traditional bigoudène headdresses had difficulty getting into cars. The Montparnasse district remains the heart of Breton migration.
