No trip to Paris  is complete without a visit to Montmartre, the hill overlooking northern central Paris, famous for its dazzling basilica and its lively narrow streets thronged with bistros, restaurants and artists. 

Montmartre  with its cobbled streets,  artists, bistros …  is full of charm! Perched on the top of a small hill in the 18th arrondissement, the most famous Parisian district has lost none of its village atmosphere that appealed so much to the artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. A real melting pot of art and inspiration for the cinema, Montmartre still gives as much pleasure to those who stroll around it and figures high on the list for a stay in Paris..  The historic district established by the City of Paris in 1995. 

Is an officially designated historic district with limited development allowed in order to maintain its historic character.

Near the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the twentieth, during the Belle Époque, many artists lived in, had studios, or worked in or around Montmartre, including Amedeo Modigliani, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Suzanne Valadon, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro, and Vincent van Gogh.

To delve into this art world of the past, visit the Musée Montmartre where you can wander around the former artists’ studios and a garden flanking the hill.

A few steps away are the open-air art gallery of Place du Tertre and several museums displaying works by Renoir, Picasso, Dalí, and Toulouse Lautrec, who made this neighborhood an artists’ colony. It’s worth taking time to leisurely wander the stone-paved lanes and discover old churches, hidden squares, little bakeries, and inspirational ateliers. Place du Tertre, is one of the best places  to experience the creative spirit of Montmartre,  in this picturesque stone-paved square the local artists create and sell their works.  It was the main square of the medieval village before Montmartre became incorporated into Paris. The narrow lanes surrounding the Place du Tertre invite visitors to explore.

If you’re looking for a little green haven, Montmartre will amaze you with its many gardens and vineyard! Planted in 1930 on the north side of the famous Butte, the vines perpetuate the memory of a rural  neighborhood in the heart of the capital.

Some two centuries ago, the Butte Montmartre looked quite different from today with its dozen or so windmills standing on the hill. You can still see two of them today, the Moulin Radet and the Moulin de la Galette, which add a touch of romance to the district. Another famous landmark windmill in the district is the Moulin Rouge!

Below the esplanade are the leafy gardens of the Place Louise-Michel, traversed by a staircase leading up to the basilica’s entrance. At the base of the Butte Montmartre is the Place Saint-Pierre, a favorite spot for families because of its adorable old-fashioned carrousel.

The Sacré-Cœur basilica is a masterpiece of grace and grandeur, is one of the city’s great landmarks, towering above Paris from high on the Butte Montmartre.  Built at the end of the 19th century in the Romano-Byzantine style, it is dedicated to the heart of Christ and is an important place of worship in the capital. Inside, the striking Christ of the Sacred Heart ceiling mosaic welcomes worshippers into the sanctuary.  The Sacré-Coeur Esplanade also offers panoramic views.

Montmartre, is an authentic village in the heart of Paris!!!

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