MONTMARTRE

One of the most picturesque areas of Paris is the steep and winding cobblestone streets of Montmartre. This hilltop neighbourhood is filled artisanal shops and eclectic cafes. It’s one of my favourite places to explore!

Once it’s own village, Montmartre was home to many artists and musicians in search of somewhere they could afford to live that was still close to the vibrancy of Paris. Famous artists just as Monet and Picasso once lived and worked here too!

Montmarte still has some of it’s quirky charm from the past, but now the area is often filled with tourists in search of this ‘old paris’, and at times it can can get excessively touristy. So be prepared to wander off the beaten path, get a little lost and revel in the quiet corners of this cinematic neighbourhood.

When we caught the train to Montmartre we arrived at the Anvers metro station and weaved our way up the bustling streets overflowing with cheap, junky shops until the Sacré-Coeur came into view perched up on the hill. It’s absolutely stunning, and the famous carousel sits happily in the square below (I’m not too sure, but I think it might be free to ride the carousel!). Children laugh and play on the playground and you can buy a cheap baguette sandwich and take a break on the steps on your way up!

Crowds gather at the steps of Sacré-Coeur to listen to buskers and soak in the sunshine with a spectacular panoramic view of Paris. It’s unlike any view I’ve ever seen before, I felt tiny in comparison to this incredible city so rich with history that was stretching out before me. I’ve heard that watching the sunset from this very spot can be life changing.

Passing by the side of the Sacré-Coeur, we walked down a cobbled street with talented buskers jamming and dancing. We’re now entering the streets of Montmartre! I followed an artist weaving his way between the crowds, with paint spattered shoes and his easel swung across his back.

Artists will gather to sell their work and draw portraits in the square, Place du Tertre. It’s a wonderful place to snap some pictures and people watch from one of the surrounding cafes.

Unfortunately where tourists gather, so do people hoping to steal and scam. There are two specific types of scams you might encounter in Montmarte (and many others throughout Paris), first are the bracelet making guys on the stairs of the Sacré-Coeur, and the ‘artists’ who have cliboards at the top who are trying to drawn your portrait and then charge you a ridiculous amount of euro’s (don’t confuse these guys with the legitimate artists who are in the Place du Tertre, you can approach them without feeling intimated and they are very talented!).

I don’t want to dwell too much on negativity, so if you’re planning a visit to Montmartre and want to be aware of possible scams, there is a really good guide on this website to read!

I think Montmartre is one of those places that is desperately trying to hold on to a piece of it’s beauty and history in an ever changing world. The Montmartre of today is sadly very unlike the Montmartre of six years ago when I first visited, just as I fear it will be even more of a tourist monstrosity in six years to come. So, if you get the chance you must visit this beautiful little bohemian village while it still holds a little piece of that magic, and before it’s too late!