Montmartre

Also known as the painter’s neighborhood, its small and steep narrow streets are home to the oldest cabarets and to the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. This area is also full of restaurants with terraces and painters selling their work to tourists and locals.

History

Montmartre was an independent commune located just outside Paris until 1860, when it became the eighteenth district of Paris.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the neighborhood was avoided by many Parisians due to the cabarets and brothels that opened in the area. However, many famous artists decided to live in the area during the Belle Époque, transforming it into the unique and surprising district it is today.

Discovering Montmartre

Montmartre can be divided into two completely different areas. The first, near Place Pigalle, is defined by its numerous neon lights of sex-shops and cabarets, including the renowned Moulin Rouge, attracting hundreds of tourists each year.

The second is the more bohemian Montmartre, located in the Place du Tertre at the top of the hill, which is reached after having walked up 197 steps or having taken the funicular. This is one of the most captivating parts of Montmartre and an ideal place to have dinner and a stroll through its streets, observing the artists while they work or sell their art. 

A maze of narrow and steep streets and alleys lead to the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, a beautiful temple from where you can see a fantastic view of Paris. Once you've reached the building, you'll see that the steps leading to the Basilica are normally full of tourists and Parisians who spend their morning or afternoon enjoying the landscape.