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Tour Montparnasse: the Observatory closes in March for a complete transformation

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The Editor

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It's the end of an era for one of the most stunning views in Paris. On March 31, 2026, the Montparnasse Tower Observatory will close for several years, before embarking on a major renovation project. It's a great opportunity to enjoy the last few weeks of taking in the capital from 210 meters up!

Perched at the top of the tallest skyscraper in the capital, the Observatoire Paris Montparnasse is getting ready to take a bow. On March 31st, the site will close to the public for an unknown duration, a direct result of the complete liberation of the tower before renovations.

Until then, the experience remains unchanged: a speedy ascent of 38 seconds to the 56th floor, followed by a 360-degree view of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré-Cœur, including Notre-Dame and the Arc de Triomphe.

Opened in 1974, just a year after the tower itself, the Observatory has welcomed over 30 million visitors in fifty years. Referred to at various times as “the exclamation point” or “the black widow”, the Montparnasse Tower remains, despite the criticism, a must-see landmark of the Parisian skyline.


Concerts, events, and memories suspended in the sky

Over the decades, the Observatory has been more than just a viewpoint. Since 1990, more than 3,200 events have been held there: intimate concerts by Justin Bieber, Indochine, and Feu Chatterton, Fashion Week parades, a temporary ice rink, not to mention the legendary live Loto draws broadcast in the 1980s.

For many, the upcoming closure feels like an emotional countdown. Last photo at sunset, family memories, a declaration in front of the Eiffel Tower… all these suspended moments make every visit feel like a kind of farewell today.


A transformed tower, finally reconciled with Paris

Heavily criticized since its construction in 1973, the Montparnasse Tower is on the brink of a true renaissance. The “Demain Montparnasse” project, led by the collective Nouvelle AOM (Franklin Azzi, Chartier Dalix, and Hardel Le Bihan), promises a spectacular transformation, from top to bottom.

The old dark windows will for example be replaced with transparent glass, the interior will be completely redesigned with new hotels, restaurants, and shops, but above all: the capacity is expected to double, increasing from 6,000 &.

12,000 people.

Highlight of the project: a huge suspended garden on top, aimed at breaking the verticality of the building and better integrating it into the Parisian landscape. The concrete start of the construction is announced for 2026, with several years of work ahead. Until the end of March, the Observatory remains open… but not for much longer. So make sure to…to take advantage of it quickly!