This eyesore is called the Tour Maine Montparnasse and is about 2/3 as high as the Tour Eiffel.
While all buildings in the center of Paris are limited to six stories, this unassuming slab rises to 59 stories, on land formerly occupied by a train station. How was it possible that an urban planning regulation dating back to Emperor Napoleon III (1852-70) was so completely ignored?
During the time of its construction, 1969-75, Georges Pompidou was the French president. This man believed in modernity; he built the motorway on the right bank of the Seine, the museum that bears his name... and he had foreseen that new, wide roads would bisect Paris to ease car traffic... Fortunately, this project died when he himself passed away unexpectedly.
The modern train station that this tower replaced is the departure point for all trains to Bordeaux, Toulouse, and other destinations. A shopping arcade has been established on the ground floor. High above the clouds, a restaurant/café offers a magnificent view of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It is widely believed that this is the best place to admire Paris! And why? Because it's the only place from which you can see the city without being distracted by the ugly tower itself!