France's controversial Montparnasse Tower is entering a new era. A stark symbol of post-war modernism in the heart of Paris, the skyscraper inaugurated in 1973 is set to get a facelift. Work is expected to begin this summer and continue until at least 2030. We take a closer look in this edition of France in Focus.

Rising 210 metres above the French capital, the Montparnasse Tower has never left anyone indifferent. For many, it remains an anomaly in the Parisian skyline, "a huge block with no expression whatsoever". Over the past five decades, it has even earned nicknames like "the wart", "the eyesore" and "the tombstone". 

Yet despite its reputation, the edifice continues to draw crowds. More than 30 million visitors have gone to its rooftop terrace to admire sweeping views of the city. Up there, criticism often gives way to awe. "It's massive!" exclaims one visitor, seeing the Louvre and surrounding landmarks for the first time from above. 

A €600 million transformation 

Since March 31, 2026, the Tour Montparnasse has been closed to the public to make way for construction work. The project, estimated at over €600 million, is backed by private investors, including the asset manager LFPI, the health insurer MGEN, the insurance company AXA and businessman Xavier Niel. 

Plans include a complete redesign of the façade, the addition of green and recreational spaces, a luxury hotel and improved energy performance. The aim is to make the skyscraper both more attractive and more environmentally sustainable. 

However, these promises have failed to convince everyone. Some local residents and heritage groups remain sceptical, arguing that the environmental measures fall short. 

"Only about 30 percent of the surface area will actually be made greener," says Patrice Maire, head of the Monts14 residents' association, who sees the project as more of a marketing stunt than a genuine ecological transformation. In his view, the future tower will continue to be an "eyesore" in the world's most beautiful city. 

A long-standing controversy 

The debate surrounding the tower is nothing new. In the late 1960s, authorities sought to modernise the Montparnasse district, even if that meant breaking with its artistic and bohemian identity. They dreamed of turning Paris into a modern, Manhattan-style skyline.   

Yet from the moment it was completed, the tower divided opinion so sharply that just four years after its inauguration, the city introduced strict height limits, banning buildings over 37 metres (around ten floors). 

Although these rules were eased in 2010 in response to overcrowding, the renovation of the Tour Montparnasse has reignited this long-running debate. 

Complicating matters further are ongoing negotiations between co-owners and public authorities, which have dragged on for more than a decade and have repeatedly delayed the project. 

"Paris imposes certain conditions, but it's not their project," explains Robert Benchetrit, who has worked within the Montparnasse complex for over 30 years. "It's a private initiative, led by co-owners with the financial means to carry out renovation and improvement works. If the city had its way, it would all be social housing." 

An ageing complex 

In all, three buildings are set to be refurbished. Work on the main tower and its smaller counterpart, the Tour CIT, is due to begin this summer, while the shopping centre at their base is scheduled for renovations in 2028. 

Once a thriving retail hub, the mall is now largely deserted, dark and smelly. A handful of businesses remain, including Western Corporation, a long-standing cowboy boot shop. Its owner, Daniel Verdure, acknowledges that renovation is overdue: "It should have been done a long time ago. We've been working in these conditions for 53 years!" 

Yet uncertainty looms for independent retailers, faced with the prospect of rising rents. "It's like having a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads," says his son, Raphaël Verdure. "Also, will they still want multi-brand shops with a more traditional approach? Nowadays, everything is very standardised; it's all Zara, Mango, H&M." 

The redevelopment of the shopping centre is subject to public consultation, meaning the project could still evolve.