Montmartre

Montmartre, the famous Paris hill

You are planning a trip to Paris. Don't miss lovely Montmartre hill. We also recommend you to stay in Montmartre. A good out of the beaten track choice.

Topped by the Sacre Coeur Basilica, Montmartre is the highest Paris hill at 130 meters. Rural until 1900, Montmartre became famous with the arrival around 1900 of painters such as Pablo Picasso.

Top sights of Montmartre

In spite of the affluence of tourists from all over the world, Montmartre still keeps a subtle and unique atmosphere, which sets it apart in Paris.

Sacre Coeur is the most famous Montmartre sight and a flagship Paris monument. It is also a vibrant catholic church. More information on Sacre Coeur.

Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, built in 1147, was the church of the powerful  Montmartre Abbey. It is a good example of French Romanesque architecture.

Artists in Montmartre

The lovely Moulin de La Galette is Montmartre last windmill. It inspired many famous artists.

The many painters on Place du Tertre are ready to sketch out your face, a nice souvenir of Paris.

They remind us of the pennyless artists, such as Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso who lived in Montmartre in late 19th / early 20th centuries.

Visit Montmartre

Walk around in Montmartre and you will discover gardens, steep streets and splendid Paris views.

Watch for Place des Abbesses, Bateau Lavoir and Montmartre vineyard (see map of Montmartre). See our Montmartre walking tour.

You can also best visit Montmartre on a Paris tour, including Montmartre, or choose the musical dinner in Montmartre.  Montmartre is indeed great at night.

Tips for visiting Montmartre

Montmartre is very crowded during weekends. Go there early on weekdays. Book your hotel right in Montmartre and you will best appreciate Montmartre.

Choose your hotel near Rue des Abbesses (see Paris map). Rue des Abbesses is the heart of Montmartre people live in whereas Sacre Coeur is the heart of Montmartre people visit.

Montmartre history

Montmartre means mount of martyrs (Mons Martyrum): Saint Denis, the first Paris bishop, was beheaded in Montmartre in 250 and buried on the spot in the Martyrium (11, rue Yvonne Le Tac. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 23 48 94. Visit Fridays 3 to 6pm).

In the same Martyrium, on August 15th 1534, Ignatius of Loyola, Sint Francis Xavier and five other companions bound themselves by vows, the first step in the creation of the order of the Jesuits. The Jesuits later spread the gospel as far as China, Japan, Indonesia and South America.