Montmartre – the “heart and art” of Paris

Having visited the “main sights” of Paris, we decided to visit a new neighbourhood for us, that neither Katina nor myself had ever been before – Montmartre.  This beautiful, unique area is built upon a huge hill in north Paris, and is crowned with the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.  We began our tour just outside the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, which was also the setting for the 2001 movie called The Moulin Rouge.

As we meandered up the hill along cobblestone streets, we were treated to beautiful streetscapes: narrow cobblestone streets, ivy covered walls, and flower boxes.  I also found the way the buildings were “stacked” to make for some very interesting photographs.  We even saw a small vineyard, which was very unexpected in an area that was essentially right in the city!

Cobblestone Streets

Stacked Houses!

Flower boxes…

Green walls

A small vineyard in Montmartre

The area used to be frequented by artists and musicians…it used to be very affordable to live there.  Artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir all spent time there and were inspired in different ways.  For instance, Renoir got his inspiration for his famous painting Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, which Katina talked about in our post on the Musee d’Orsay.

Inspiration for Renoir’s Moulin de la Galette

Inspiration for Renoir’s Moulin de la Galette

There continues to be an active artistic community in Montmartre, despite the rise in popularity of the area…and subsequent increases in property/rental values.  You can walk down almost any street and see different forms of street art.  One artist uses coloured glass and pieces of mirror to make small mosaics.  Another famous Parisian artist, Misstic, creates clever stencil-based art on walls.

There is also an outdoor artists market square were local artists paint and sell their works.  An interesting fact about this area is that each artist must purchase a license in order to work/sell their art in the market…and only art they have actually created there in the marketplace may be sold.  So, the artists cannot go and sit outside Notre Dame, create some paintings and then sell them at the Montmartre market.

Montmartre Mosaics

Montmartre Mosaics

Misstic – stencil artist

Misstic – stencil artist

Square in Montmartre where artists paint and sell their works.

After about an hour and a half of exploration, we reached the summit and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.

Since August 1^st 1885, Sacre Coeur has had the “perpetual adoration of the Eucharist” which continues for 24 hours per day, to this day.  Every evening after the doors close at 10:30 pm, a “prayer relay” occurs whereby people who have registered to continue the adoration throughout the night, stay at the Basilica guest house and are roused at their appointed hour for prayer.  They then go to the Basilica and spend an hour in prayer until the next member of the “relay” arrives.

The view over Paris from here was absolutely amazing!  You could see for miles around in all directions.  Thousands of people visit the Basilica each day.  In the area around the Basilica there are also street performers.  One in particular that we found quite amazing was a soccer player who climbs an enormous lamp post and does tricks with a soccer ball while suspended from the post!  Check out this youtube video to see the soccer player in action…you have to see it to believe it!  Click the photos below to get a close up view.

Paris from the top of Montmartre

Thousands of people visit the Basilica each day

A high-flying soccer player

A high-flying soccer player

We all had a very enjoyable time visiting this unique area of Paris.  The beautiful neighbourhoods draw you ever upwards until you reach the summit of the Basilica.  This area is definitely worth the trip!