The outer rive gauche districts are the start of a lot artsy and working class neighborhoods (especially the large Montparnasse area) as well as some unusual tourist attractions.
13e Arrondissement
Full of signs in Vietnamese, Chinese, and other languages, the 13th arrondissement contains the “quartier asiatique” of Paris where you find some of the largest Asian markets of the city as well as some super tasty restaurants. This Chinese character-based art installations stands as a kind of welcome entry to the district
As early at the 1600s, the thirteenth was notable for its production of tapestries out of the Gobelin Manufactury, an artisanal family factory that became an arm of the royal state.
14e Arrondissement
One of the most interesting aspects of the 14th for me is visiting the famous Paris catacombs, an “Empire des Morts” where you literally walk among the remains of from Paris’s ancient cemeteries relocated to the cavernous excavated areas under the city (1996)
An overview of the 14th including La Cemetiere Montparnasse (2004)
15e Arrondissement
At the border of the 15th and 14th is the Tour Montparnasse, one of the only skyscrapers in the center of Paris. Considered an eyesore by many, it does offer some of the clearest views across the city (2004)
An overview of the 15th at left including the Ile aux Cygnes and Pont de Bir-Hakeim on the Seine