The historic quarter of Montmartre is one of the most striking sights of Paris.
No wonder this place is so popular with tourists from around the world. A hill with a height of 130 meters is located in the Eighth district, in the Northern part of the city. Montmartre has long been known as an enclave of art. The word Montmartre is translated as “mountain of the Martyr”. This name was derived from the martyrdom of Saint-Denis — Bishop of Paris, beheaded here in the year 250.
The hill near the town was inhabited during the 19th century, because the Emperor Napoleon III gave the best urban land to their wealthy friends with the aim of building. Living on these lands the people were forced to move to the outskirts of Paris, where he quickly built his own city with its own rules and laws. That is why Montmartre quickly became a popular area of entertainment, and by the end of the 18th century there appeared a variety of entertainment options with a special reputation, like Moulin Rouge and Kat Noir.
From the mid to late 1800s, artists had also chosen the district of Montmartre. Pissarro and Jongkind was the first who settled here. They were followed by such great personalities as Edgar Degas, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Renoir and Pablo Picasso. In this district also lived some prominent composers.
Montmartre today
As Montmartre is a historic district, where the construction is prohibited, which allowed him to retain much of its charm. Even a simple walk around the block will give you a lot of fun, but if you want to learn more about its history go to the Museum of Montmartre, where he lived and worked the painter Maurice Utrillo, a neighbouring mansion was occupied by Renoir. Also worth visiting the Montmartre cemetery, where are buried many famous artists. To conclude the tour at the Moulin Rouge, or at some night club with an awesome atmosphere. To climb to the top of Montmartre, you can use the funicular leading to the sacré-cœur Basilica. You can also use the special Montmartre bus, which stops near all the iconic attractions of the hill.
The most recognizable attraction in Montmartre is the Basilica of the sacré cœur, built between 1876 and 1912. The white dome of this Roman Catholic Basilica located at the highest point of the city. The Church is annually visited by millions of tourists. A few blocks from the Basilica is the place du Tertre, where modern artists try to emulate the success of their predecessors. Many tourists come here to admire their paintings. Many of them can easily draw your portrait that will be a great souvenir from Paris. Place du Tertre will allow you to take in those days, when the world’s best artists lived and worked at this same place making a name for myself in the art world.
If you constantly crowded place du Tertre too tired You can always relax in the Park Turlar. This miniature Park is located right behind the sacré Coeur Basilica, where once stood the famous windmills Turlar. The Park stands out with a beautiful pergola and a fountain cascade. Even more calm and quiet place is a great cemetery of Montmartre in the Eastern part of the hill, founded during the French Revolution. It’s known as the graveyard of artists, because here are buried many famous painters.
How better to explore Montmartre?
In our days artists can no longer afford to live in Montmartre — it’s too expensive real estate, too noisy and too many tourists. How best to explore this Paris landmark? The first way is just to follow the crowd, to take some photos on the steps at the sacré-Coeur Basilica, buy an overpriced painting on the place du Tertre, the artist to order your portrait and go to the shops, buying Souvenirs, postcards, bright t-shirts, most of which are made in China.
The second way is to buy a tourist map and try to get lost among the narrow cobblestone streets of one of the most interesting historical areas of Paris. It is important to remember that sacré-Coeur is at the top of the hill. So, coming up you have virtually no chance of getting lost. At the foot of the hill is the Boulevard de Clichy with its numerous bars, sebabnya, all sorts of cabarets and shops for adults. Imagine a triangle with corners in the form of boulevards Clichy and Rochechouart at the bottom and the top angle of the triangle will be the sacré-cœur Basilica. This area of Montmartre and is the main interest for the traveler.
Mini train ParisYou can help you start the tour at any point along the foot of the hill. You can also take the metro to Abbesses station and walk directly to the foot of Montmartre. The words of the great poets, is much more important than the journey itself than the final destination. You can include in your tour of the metro station Blanche (Moulin Rouge) or metro Anvers and gradually approach the hill. It will be more like a pilgrimage to a place that nurtured many great artists and writers of France of the last century. If You are too tired to climb the hill through the cobbled streets and steps of Montmartre, there is a small white “mini-train” which can be the ideal option for people with disabilities and families with children. However, the best option to explore Montmartre will be just walking tour.
