Parc Montsouris and the Cité Universitaire
France > Paris > Southern > Montparnasse > Parc MontsourisIn the southeastern corner of the arrondissement, there are still more artistic associations: Dalí, Lurcat, Miller and Durrell lived in the tiny cobbled street of Villa Seurat off rue de la Tombe-Issoire; Lenin and his wife, Krupskaya, lodged across the street at 4 rue Marie-Rose; Le Corbusier built the studio at 53 av Reille, close to the secretive and verdant square du Montsouris which links with rue Nansouty; and Georges Braque's home was in the cul-de-sac now named after him off this street. All these characters would have taken strolls in the nearby Parc Montsouris (RER Cité-Universitaire). It's a pleasant place to wander, with its unlikely contours, winding paths and waterfall above the lake – even the RER tracks cutting right through it fail to dent its charm. More surprising features include a meteorological office, a marker of the old meridian line, near boulevard Jourdan, and, by the southwest entrance, a kiosk run by the French Astronomy Association.On the other side of boulevard Jourdan, several thousand students from more than one hundred different countries live in the curious array of buildings of the Cité Universitaire. The central Maison Internationale resembles a traditional French Château, while the diverse styles of the others reflect the variety of nations and peoples who study here: Cambodia is guarded by startling stone creatures, while the red brick of the Collège Franco-Britannique all too accurately recalls Britain's institutional buildings. Switzerland (designed by Le Corbusier) and the USA are the most popular for their relatively luxurious rooms. The Cité puts on films, shows and other events (check the notice boards in the Maison Internationale or online at www.ciup.fr), and you can eat cheaply in the cafeterias if you have a student card.
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