Montmartre

French bohemians – writers and musicians, artists and poets – lived in the present moment and did not think about tomorrow, worked and created without any limits – sometimes hungry, but always with a belief in the beautiful. Montmartre has absorbed this sense of life to the full. Sometimes it seems that he, this district, could feel and empathize, watching the romance and hardships of life of noble persons as if from above – symbolically, it is the highest point of the French capital. Montmartre is always ready to welcome guests. It is possible that the starting point of your sightseeing tour of Paris will also be Montmartre.

How do you get to Montmartre?

The famous hill of the same name is located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It is not difficult to get there – transportation connections within Paris are excellent, and Montmartre can be reached by metro:

• you can get off at Anvers station on Metro Line 2.
• you can get off at Abesses station on the 23rd subway line.

You can also get to Montmartre by city buses (routes #30, 31, 80, 85).

Funicular

You can go up the hill by cable car. The funicular starts at the foot of the hill and goes all the way up to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. The cable car ride takes only a minute and a half and will save you energy for further sightseeing. The funicular line itself is quite old – it was opened in 1900. The funicular operates 7 days a week from 6am to 0.45am. The cost of the trip is the same as the regular subway. Special tourist buses – Montmartrobus – run along Montmartre. They visit all the famous sights of the area. They are very convenient for tourists, because ordinary public transportation tickets can be used for a trip on such a bus.

If you’re in Paris for the weekend

Many travelers who are limited in time prefer to rent a car with a driver in Paris – it saves time and complete independence from public transport. If you have the appropriate license and at least a little knowledge of the city, you can drive yourself.

Montmartre sights. Tour of Montmartre.

To get to know Montmartre better, take a tour. This neighborhood is full of attractions.

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

The huge Catholic cathedral is located at the very top of the hill. The square in front of the basilica offers a breathtaking view of the city. Sacré-Coeur is a kind of roof of Paris, and the basilica itself has become a recognizable symbol of Montmartre.

Moulin Rouge

The cabaret has become a distinctive symbol of Paris. Moulin Rouge is the place where cancan and rivers of champagne meet at one point to delight the tireless guest. Sixty beautiful dancers on wings of feathers and rhinestones will take you to the world of colorful dance. Despite the high price of admission (125 euros), the show is extremely popular – book tickets in advance.

Wall of Love

The phrase “I love you” can be written in 200 different languages. It’s no surprise that Le Mur de Je T’aime – a place where you can improve your foreign linguistics skills, but only for one sentence – has sprung up in Paris.

Place Pigalle

The square itself and the erotic museum located here have made this area quite popular with some categories of tourists. There are many adult stores here. It is a kind of red light district.

Bateau-Lavoir

“Talent must be hungry” – informs us a phrase from a famous Soviet movie. Bateau-Lavoir is a famous French hostel where many poor artists lived. Picasso and Modigliani were among them. At different times, Spanish creators neighbored here with Italian ones. The house has a second name – “floating laundry”. Noisy companies of the masters of the brush rested in the cabaret “Lapin Agile” (Lapin Agile).

Place du Tertre

If in St. Petersburg the square in front of St. Catherine’s Church is considered a vernissage, in Montmartre this role has been taken over by Place de la Tertre. During the day, artists work here – you can choose a painting to suit your taste or order your own portrait.

Interesting facts about Montmartre

• There used to be many mills in Montmartre. Now there are only two left. The first is the Moulin Rouge, the second is the Moulin de la Galette, where there is now a cozy café.
• There is a monument to Dalida in Montmartre – her house here is beautifully preserved.
• The Sacré-Coeur is not the only religious building on the hill. There is another church, St. Jean des Abbesses, built in the twentieth century.
• Montmartre’s most famous structure is the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, which dates back to the late nineteenth century, with comfortable wide steps leading up to the basilica.
• Another famous building in Montmartre is the ancient church of St. Pierre. It is the only thing left of the architectural ensemble of the rich abbey that once stood on the hill.
• Montmartre is the home of the creative elite. Renoir, George Sand, Hugo, Toulouse Lautrec and other famous writers and artists lived here. Many graves of celebrities can be seen in the local cemetery. Stendhal, Nezhinsky and Gautier are buried here.
• The unique Montmartre wine is also worth tasting. Very little of it is produced: only about a thousand bottles a year. The wine from the local vineyards was once reserved exclusively for the monarch’s court.