Montmartre
Located on a hill, the district of Montmartre offers fabulous views of Paris and is also home to one of its most famous landmarks
Montmartre is actually both a hill as well as a district. The district gets its name from the hill which overlooks it and provides visitors with some fabulous views of Paris. Situated on the right bank of the River Seine, Montmartre is well known for a number of famous landmarks and monuments. One could easily spend several days exploring the picturesque cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops, bistros, and bars that are established throughout the area.
One of the famous landmarks and monuments that you will find in Montmartre is the Basilica of Sacré Coeur. It is found right at the top of the hill and overlooks the entire district. The dome is special because it is constructed of a special rock that releases a white substance that keeps the dome white at all times. It does not matter how much pollution the dome is exposed to, it remains as white as the day it was built.
The hill itself is named for a martyred saint. The name Montmartre is based on the term "mountain of the martyr". The martyr that is being referred to is Saint Denis, the Bishop of Paris until his death around 250 AD, and is now the patron saint of France. It is also claimed that the hill was a holy place for the ancient druids, there is no archaeological evidence to back up this claim though.
There is also the Saint Pierre de Montmartre, a much older church which is often forgotten in the wonder at the Basilica. This church claims to be where the Jesuit order was founded.
The area of Montmartre also played host to a number of artists including some really great names such as Salvador Dali, Amedeo Madigliani, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
Montmartre has not always been such a peaceful place. When the Russians over ran the city in 1814, they used the elevation of the hill to their advantage and placed a number of cannons there with which they proceeded to bombard the city.
The area was also a popular drinking area for a number of reasons. Not only was the area considered to be outside the city limits, but the nuns also made wine. It is in Montmartre that the film and Broadway musical, Moulin Rouge, was said to take place.
As you can see, there are bits of history here that will interest every person. This is what makes Montmartre such a popular destination and tourist attraction.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee:Address: Montmartre, 75018 Paris, France
Montmartre Reviews
Rated out of 5
Very busy and crowded area with charming shops and nice viewpoint. It takes quite a few stairs to get to the top and be prepared for crowds. The view of Paris is lovely but wish it wasn’t as crowded. Many people trying to sell things at the top.
V F - a month ago
A very crowded and touristy area in Paris. Little on the outskirts, there are many famous spots here in this area to visit, lot of famous cafes, cathedral and photo worthy spots. It is a hill perched atop the city of Paris, you can view most of Paris from the top.
Sujay Sreekumar - 5 months ago
It's a beautiful cathedral and area of Paris. It gets very crowded with tourist and the locals are protesting to scale back the amount of tourism.
If you go to the cathedral and can do it, get the pass to walk to the top of the dome. It's an amazing experience.
The Montmartre art square was busy but the street art was cool and the food we had was pretty good. Worth a day to explore the area.
Michael DiGiorgio - a month ago
What can I say these pictures speak more than a thousand words. It is just insanely beautiful. Montmartre has such a special charm, especially with that artistic vibe and the stunning views over all of Paris. Getting a portrait (or a caricature) done there would’ve been such a sweet memory.
Truly a magical place! Will definitely return when I come to Paris again.
Garance - 4 weeks ago
Love it here! Make sure you get a portrait done as your souvenir. And even if the locals says that the food is terrible, the atmosphere is so nice that it makes up for it. But, we found the restaurants here to be nice with good food.
Alyx Lofton - 2 weeks ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M2 | Anvers or Place de Clichy (Cemetery) | 0 minutes (4 to the cemetery) |
| M12 | Abbesses | 0 minutes |
How to get to Montmartre by Metro / RER
By Metro: Exit at either Anvers Station on the M2 Line or Abbesses Station on the M12 Line. To get to the Funicular that goes up to the base of the Basilica go to Abbesses Station on the M12 line; exit to the left and follow Rue Yvonne le Tac east watching for the sign to the Funicular (5 minutes) or you can take the stairs (11 minutes). From Anvers Station on the M2 line follow the crowds heading north past all the little shops on Rue de Steinkerque and head up the stairs (9 minutes) or go left at Place St. Pierre and look for the sign to the Funicular (4 minutes).
For the Montmartre Cemetery exit the M2 line at Place de Clichy and head east from the traffic circle along Blvd. de Clichy. Look for the stairs and sign for the cemetery on the right side just before the bridge that crosses over the cemetery.
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Accommodations near Montmartre:
Photo Gallery
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The Montmartre Funicular can save you from climbing a lot of stairs to the top of the hill in front of Sacre Coeur cc licensed photo by L.Burchfield -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma - cc license via Flickr
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