by A walk around Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the most interesting, colourful and picturesque areas in the north of Paris. The rich history which permeates the narrow streets and ancient buildings of this place attracts hundreds of tourists annually who want to enjoy its freedom and it is not devoid of romanticism and charm.
.
Montmartre is a 130-metre-high hill whose name sounds like “mountain of martyrs.”In ancient Roman times, the temple of the god of Mars was located on this Mountain and during a period of persecution the quarries located under the hill became a refuge for Christians as well as the Bishop of Lutetia – St. Dionysius who was among the persecuted.
At the end of the 19th century, the Montmartre district became a place where painters, writers and artists who had lost their money, gathered. Among the outstanding personalities for whom this area became almost home were Pablo Picasso,
Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Gauguin and many others. Nowadays, Montmartre is one of the most famous attractions not only in Paris, but in France.
What to visit in Montmartre
Montmartre is the highest point in Paris. In addition to the fact that you have a magnificent view of the entire city from its height, the area is full of attractions for every taste: museums, famous cabarets, narrow streets with cosy cafes and bars, flea markets and much more.
Sacre Coeur Basilica
Sacre Coeur is a cathedral which sits on top of a hill. Its construction ended in 1914. The majestic basilica is decorated in the Roman-Byzantine tradition – walls with elaborate stained glass windows and elongated domes. An excellent observation deck offers views of Paris next to the basilica.
Place du Tertre
The cathedral was built from a special type of limestone. A unique optical effect is created when looking at the walls of the building on a rainy day – they acquire a pure, snow-white colour, making it seem to shine.
A square famous for its violent past lies not far from the cathedral called Tertre. During the Middle Ages public executions took place, which is why the square was flooded with the blood of the executed.
Today, artists greet guests and tourists at this place. Anyone can spend a few minutes and order a cartoon or purchase a painting depicting picturesque views of Montmartre.
Montmartre Cemetery
This is the tomb for hundreds of famous people including Berlioz, Dumas (son), Emile Zola and many others. The cemetery is active and new burials take place here every year.
Windmill Moulin de la Gallette
The legendary Moulin de la Galette mill was built in 1622 and is a must-see for every visitor to the hill.
Today the monument is protected by the state. Its appearance has been preserved and is in pristine condition because this is exactly what the mills looked like, of which there were about 30 in Montmartre. These famous buildings were captured on canvasses by Renoir, Kasai, Van Gogh and Picasso.
Saint-Ouen – flea market finds
This market is secretly recognized as the largest in Europe. Walking among the shops you can find truly original rare things and antiques, which are inexpensive.
Wall of Love
A unique composition appeared in the 20th century not far from Place Abbes which today is one of the most modern Montmartre attractions.
This is a wall of love – it is decorated with inscriptions, namely love confessions. Written in white ink on a black background in 311 languages of the world, it attracts young people who want to remain in the memory of this place forever.
Museum in Montmartre
There are several interesting museums on the hill, where you can better learn the history of Montmartre and meet its prominent residents.
The Montmartre Museum is a museum which opened in an old 17th-century mansion, where in the distant past, the studios of famous artists were located. The museum has four working exhibitions that tell the story and tell the story of the stages of development of Montmartre. You can also see paintings by Renoir here.
Another unique place is the Salvador Dali Museum which, in addition to 300 paintings, contains sculptures and engravings created by the artist which reflect his original view of the world.
Cabaret Montmartre
Montmartre has long been not only a cultural and creative district of Paris, but also a place where, since 1875 new cafes began to open, attracting hundreds of visitors with their unusual work format. We are talking about a cabaret, where visitors were greeted not only with strong drinks, but also with dancing, naked women and noisy parties
One of the first such establishments was the “Agile Rabbit” cabaret. Today, it is no longer possible to see the previous show programs in this place, but anyone can spend time there listening to songs and poems.
But another, world-famous cabaret, “Moulin Rouge,” was opened in Montmartre in 1885 and is still active to this day. This place in the form of a red mill is called the “palace of vice and debauchery.” It was made famous by actresses performing the Cancan dance, which was attended by such famous personalities as Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde and the Prince of Wales. Today, the cabaret continues to organize bright, memorable shows. The cost of visiting starts at 100 Euro.
Boulevard Clichy and Place Pigalle
Place Pigalle and Boulevard Clichy is the entertainment heart of Montmartre. This is a place of lust and debauchery. Many years ago, the square was a gathering place for Parisian priestesses of love. Today there are several sex shops, bars, strip clubs and the Museum of Erotica is located nearby.
Boulevard Clichy is part of the red-light districts. It was here that the studio of the artist Toulouse-Lautrec was located, who painted amazing pictures and girls of low social responsibility acted as models for them.
Cafe Montmartre
The narrow streets of Montmartre are lined with dozens of cosy cafes which were once frequented by famous people. One of the most famous and visited places is the cafe “Two Mills”, where the film “Amelie” was filmed. The atmosphere of the 1950s still reigns here and delicious traditional French cuisine is served.
How to get to Montmartre hill
Tourists get to Montmartre Hill in several ways. The cheapest option is to take the metro to the Anvers station. There are 237 steps leading up from the station to the basilica through which you can enjoy the local beauty. If you don’t have the strength or desire to walk, you can use the funicular and buy a ticket for it
On the way back, going down the hill, you can drink a cup of aromatic coffee in one of the cafes, visit a museum along the way, look at Place Pigalle or catch a cabaret show.
Another option to explore Montmartre is to travel by tourist bus which runs the famous Monmartrobus route from Place Pigalle to Jules Joffrin metro station.
