Sitting just next to the famous Sacré-Cœur cathedral, in the garden of the Paris’ oldest church, Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, is the city’s oldest cemetery. The tiny Cimetière du Calvaire is also Paris’ smallest cemetery and sits upon the highest point of Parisian soil. The cemetery dates back to the original Montmartre Abbey and was officially opened in 1688. The site for the…
Before it became a world renowned centre of artistic repute, Montmartre was a working-class village, north of Paris. Centred around its Abbey and populated largely by peasants, the old village was also a hub for mills. Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, 13 windmills were installed on the small hill. The first record of Montmartre’s windmills dates…
Stretching from the edge of the city all the way up Montmartre’s hill to the Sacre-Coeur; the 1,304 metres of Rue du Mont-Cenis is home to some of France’s most historic monuments Historically the street was the route of a pilgrimage from neighbouring Saint Denis to the religious summit. Then known as rue Saint-Denis, after its route, it officially took…
From the 400 Coups to Amelie, Montmartre has a storied history in film. Here are 4 films you might not have realised were also shot in the area. Midnight in Paris Deviate director Woody Allen’s ode to Paris, Midnight in Paris is a cinematic tour of the city. Stopping at everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to Monet’s Garden, Chateau de Versailles…
Just metres away form the Moulin Rouge and the hustle and bustle of Pigalle is Avenue Frochot. Home to the city’s rich and famous, the private street was once home to some of Paris’ most celebrated artists. The Residents No. 1: Is the haunted house of the avenue. A private mansion and the most picturesque building on the street. It was…
rue Foyatier A daily obstacle for locals making their way home, Montmartre’s picturesque staircases are a focal point of the area. In total there are 38 staircases surrounding the hill. Crossing streets and even comprising streets themselves, the staircases of Montmartre have come to characterise the village’s charm. Featured in films, from Amelie to Midnight in Paris, the scenic steps…
In the heart of Montmartre, just outside Pigalle station, sits a Carrefour supermarket, like any other. For over a century, Montmartre’s only circus made its home on this spot, before shutting its doors 50 years ago. The Cirque Medrano is today a distant memory of Montmartre’s ebullient past. Cirque Fernando (1875-1897) Acrobat and equestrian, Fernando Beert first came to Paris…
Gare du Nord is Europe’s busiest train station and the entry point for many travellers into France. It’s the final destination for the Eurostar train from London and international trains from across Western Europe. It is also the connection for the RER B train to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. If your trip to Paris calls for a…
The RoissyBus at Opera Whether it be due to disability access or simply not fancying the metro, the bus is a convenient option to getting to and from CDG airport and the city. If you’re staying in Montmartre, there is a simple bus option to get you to CDG on time. The main bus linking Paris to the airports is…
The funicular in winter. Sat, not so indiscretely, on the left of the Sacré-Cœur basilica, the Montmartre funicular (Funiculaire de Montmartre) is almost as old as the church itself. If you want to avoid the hundreds of steep stairs, you’ll probably want to take a ride on one of the historic carriages. The funicular began operations in 1899, 15 years before the…