[FRANCE] Paris - A Walk Through Montmartre (Map included)

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Paris city for a change, escape to Montmartre! This charming neighborhood is a pleasure to stroll around on its cobbled streets. Also, don't forget to visit the famous Basilica Sacre-Coeur which is perched on top of the hill of Montmartre while you're here.

Getting there:

Metro: Abbesses, Anvers, Pigalle or Blanche station. See map above (click to see enlarged map). If you want to get to Sacre-Coeur, the nearest station to the funicular station would be Anvers station.

What to see:

1) Basilica Sacre-Coeur

There are a few ways of getting to Basilica Sacre-Coeur from the bottom of the hill. The easiest way is to take a funicular. Otherwise you can choose to take bus (30, 31, 80, 85), take the Le Petit Train of Montmartre from Place Blanche or walk uphill. 

Bear in mind that there's plenty of staircase to climb before you can reach the Basilica. I would recommend to take the funicular uphill and leave the basilica on foot. 

The funicular will take you up the hill in less than two minutes. You can use a standard Metro ticket to ride the funicular as it is the same rate as metro. The hours of operation of the funicular is from 6am to 12.45am.

Basilica Sacre-Coeur was built at the end of 19th century and it is dedicated to the heart of Christ. 

It houses the largest mosaic in France which is entitled Christ in Majesty. You can find it in the apse.

The view of Paris city from the Montmartre is amazing. Many people just sat on the steps, enjoying the view.

Opening hours: 6am to 10.30pm (church), 9am to 7pm (dome in summer), 9am - 6pm (dome in winter)

Admission to the church is free. You can pay 5 euros to climb up to the dome and get amazing view of Paris.

Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

2) Place du Tertre

Place du Tertre is a square just a few streets away from Basilica Sacre-Coeur. Oddly, I tried to find the square to no avail. However I love the colourful cafes and bistro in this area.

Place du Tertre is supposedly packed with artists selling paintings or offering portraits session. The square's oldest restaurant, La Mere Catherine, was said to have invented the word "bistro". 'Bystro' meaning 'quick' in Russian was what the Russian soldiers visiting the restaurant used to shout in a hurry to down a drink before joining their ranks. 

3) Le Bateau-Lavoir

Bateau-Lavoir (Laundry Boat) is the nickname of the building that is famous as the residence and meeting place for a group of outstanding early 20th-century artists, writers, actors and art dealers including Picasso.

4) Le Moulin de la Galette

Out of the twelve windmills that dotted the hill of Montmartre, only two remain today. Moulin Radet marks the entrance to a restaurant called Le Moulin de la Galette. The interior of the windmill cannot be visited, you can only catch a glimpse of it from a distance on rue Lepic.

5) Le Passe-Muraile

Nearby the windmill, you can find the peculiar bronze statue of The Walker Through Walls. It is inspired by a short story published by Marcel Ayme in 1941.

Pull me out from the wall! I had fun taking photo here with the statue.

6) Van Gogh's apartment

One could easily miss the modest entrance to the former apartment of Van Gogh where he used to lived and shared with his brother for two years. Just save the location on Google Map and look for a blue painted door.

7) Cafe des 2 Moulins

This cafe gained fame since its appearance in the movie "Amelie". Its name comes from the 2 nearby historic windmills.

8) Moulin Rogue 

Moulin Rogue is another famous windmill landmark in the area. Its eye-catching red windmill and facade is easily spotted from a distance. 

This cabaret is best known as the birthplace of modern form of can can dance.

Sadly, due to the current situation, Moulin Rouge suspends all performances from Friday 13th March until further notice. 

Official website: http://www.moulinrouge.fr/?lang=en

7) Wall of Love 

Semi hidden away in a small garden square (Jehan Rictus), the Wall of Love is dedicated to lovers from around the world. The phrase "I love you" is featured 311 times in 250 languages on the 40 meter square blue tiled wall. The Wall of Love is the brainchild of Frederic Baron and it was created in year 2000.

Notice the tiny red bits that scattered all over the blue wall? The artists admitted that these are broken pieces of a heart. When pieced back together, it would form a complete heart and full symbolism of love.

The park is opened from 8am daily and closed around sunset time, 6pm to protect it from vandalism after night fall. 

The Wall of Love is very near to the Abbesses metro station. You can make this the starting point or ending point while visiting Montmartre. For me, it was my last sight in Montmartre. Overall, I really like the artsy atmosphere in Montmartre. What about you?

Montmartre