France > France travel > Paris guide > Montmartre

Montmartre, Paris

See Paris Short Breaks to plan your Paris visit

Montmartre is one of the most visited regions of Paris. To the north of Paris, it is set on a hill (known locally as 'la butte') in the Eighteenth Arrondissement on the banks of the Seine River.

The site has a long religious history. It was occupied originally by druids, then was later the site of two Roman temples. From the 12th century the hill was home to buildings connected with the Abbey of Saint-Denis, these being demolished after the French revolution, with the exception of the Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre (don't neglect to visit to this church just because of its 'big brother' - it is a fine 12th century building). Construction of the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur took place between 1875 and 1914.

The name of the region comes from Saint-Denis, the patron saint of France, who was beheaded here - hence 'mountain of the martyr' - Montmartre.

The region is most instantly recognisable because of its main landmark - the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. The basilica offers stunning views over the city of Paris, and the gardens around the base are a magnet for artists to set up their easels. Unfortunately perhaps a great deal of portrait painters are also setup to please the tourists.

The streets around the hill are still among the most romantic in Paris (used in the film Amélie) and the region is now protected to prevent development from damaging its unique character. Highlights among the old streets are the Place du Tertre, Place Pigalle and the Allée des Brouillards.

An interesting sidenote: the Montmarte region was host to Russian soldiers after the invasion of Paris in 1814, who found the hill well placed to bombard the city. In the restaurant La Mère Catherine in the district, they shouted for faster service. The Russian word for this is 'bistro', hence the word for introduced in the French language.

The region has been a popular cultural and nightlife centre in Paris for more than a century, and has long attracted artists and painters including Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, Matisse, Delacroix, Berlioz and Toulouse-Lautrec. The region is still a thriving artistic community, and many art galleries and exhibitions are found here.

The renowned Moulin Rouge cabaret and music hall is found in Montmartre.

>>> See our Paris Breaks section to plan your Paris visit <<<