Montmartre. Photo courtesy of Antonis Lamnatos on Flickr
Are you visiting Paris? Have you suddenly started to walk uphill, or climb steep flights of steps to get from one street to the next? Then you’re in the Montmartre neighborhood – and once you discover it, you just may never want to leave.
Montmartre is the name given to Paris’s 18th arrondissement, and it sits high atop the city’s highest hill, with the Basilica of Sacre Coeur at its peak. Any level of elevation in other areas of the city afford gorgeous views of the hill and the church, so keep an eye out while you’re around town!
Paris is known to have ancient, even prehistoric origins, so it’s not a stretch to believe, as historians do, that druids once used Montmartre as sacred ground. But its name comes from the martyrdom of Saint Denis 1800 years ago; its name literally translates to “Mount Martyr.”
Throughout the ensuing centuries, Montmartre was mostly used as a strategic point during various battles. But the invasion that made the most lasting impression was that of the artists who took over the neighborhood in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Works such as the song La Bohème and the film Moulin Rouge! depict a way of life that was a bit decadent, featured all manner of debauchery, and ultimately was responsible for some of the great art of the era.
Want to know more about what it was like back then? Take a Small-Group Montmartre Walking Tour: Fine Wines and Famous Artists
Today much of Montmartre is protected by historic status, and the Funiculaire de Montmartre helps locals and tourists ascend the hill. If you’re visiting, don’t forget to head down the back of the hill as well – there’s a vineyard! But most of all, take in the fantastic view of the City of Light.
One word of warning: It really is quite hilly, and some roads can be uneven. Be careful! And if you’re exiting the Métro at Abbesses, TAKE THE ELEVATOR up to the street level; the staircase is a claustrophobic nightmare.
- Contributed by Christine Cantera
The post Montmartre: From Druids to Decadence appeared first on Viator Paris.
