Before there was Ocean’s Eleven, there was Bob le flambeur. While Amelie might take top honours for being Montmartre’s most famous film, Bob le flambeur is surely the area’s finest cinematic offering. Written and directed by the pioneering French director Jean-Pierre Melville, Bob is a classic heist film that would be a precursor to the French New Wave and an influence on 50s American cinema. Filmed mostly…
Paris is one of the most visited destinations on earth and welcomes close to 20 million tourists each year. Boasting some of the world’s most famous attractions, museums, cuisine and shopping, accommodation is often a last concern. Staying in a hostel offers many great benefits that you will not find with a hotel or apartment rental. Here are 5 reasons to…
The most famous event of the fashion calendar is an exclusive affair of luxury and frivolity. A yearly occasion for locals and visitors alike, here are 5 fun facts you may not known about Paris’ spectacle of excess. Its Origins Are Not French The father of haute couture, Charles Frederick Worth may have made his name in Paris, but he was actually…
For over half a century, a man known for his signature electric blue attire and a singular name, Michou, was the last bastion of Montmartre’s legendary nightlife. Born Michel Georges Alfred Catty in Amiens in 1931, the man who would become Michou moved to Paris in the early 1950s. A jack of all trades, Michel sold magazines, made shoes, washed…
If you’re arriving into Paris CDG after midnight or your flight is delayed, you may well miss the final metro connection into the city. Fear not, there are still bus options to get you into Paris. The Noctilien Night Bus The last Roissybus taking you from CDG into central Paris is at 00:30. However, it’s not the LAST bus. From…
An area unlike any other in the city of light, the village of Montmartre is a must visit destination for anyone visiting Paris. Here are 5 reasons you need to visit Montmartre 1. The History Paris is a city packed with history, but Montmartre’s legacy is unique in its own right. Once a village bordering the city, the area was home to…
The old adage that the French are always on strike might be a slight exaggeration, but industrial action is certainly more common in France than most European countries. It’s not unusual to be faced with train and plane delays or even cancellations, due to a worker’s strike. For the unsuspecting tourist, unfamiliar with the Parisian transport network, this can naturally…
Montmartre might be the most distinctive quarter of Paris, but the ancient village contains a number of different areas itself. From quaint cobbled streets to bustling boulevards, here are 5 areas of Montmartre you won’t want to miss. Abbesses Abbesses is situated in the heart of Montmartre. The central point of the neighbourhood and boasting the iconic Sacré-Cœur basilica; in…
The Moulin Rouge is a French institution. An icon of cinema and an ode to Montmartre’s bohemian past, the cabaret is one of the most visited attractions in Paris. If you’re planning on a Champagne soiree in the famous Moulin Rouge, there are a number of ways to get there. Metro Line 2 (Blanche) In the heart of Montmartre, the…
If you happen to be passing through the historic Rue des Martyrs in Montmartre, you might have noticed the small cul-de-sac, Rue André-Gill. Situated a few metres from the bottom of Boulevard de Clichy, the street pays homage to one of Montmartre’s most renowned residents. Born in Paris in 1840, Louis-Alexandre Gosset de Guînes began his career as a satirical…