Quartier de Montmartre

A beautiful part of the city, Montmartre is definitely an area that deserves a visit, even if you only go through it to get to Sacre Coeur. The Montmartre area feels slightly as if it were not part of the busy cosmopolitan of Paris, the way how you still get small stores open, the layout and the total lack of large brands appearing on every corner, it feels like it is a detached town.

Hidden along the streets of Montmartre are many stores selling all sorts of items, from basic decorative pieces to one or two wine yards and antique stores. Not an expert on these myself, but I simply found the variety added to the atmosphere. Enjoy the walk up to Sacre Coeur, since once you get neay the basilica, you will be surrounded by artists (con or not I have no idea) of all sorts trying to help you take photos, draw pictures or simply sell you souvenirs.
This slightly kills the atmosphere in the area, commercializing it all of a sudden.

Nevertheless, Montmartre is still worth a visit.

I think that Monmatrtre is one of the most beautiful areas of Paris. There is the Scare Coeur and from which you have a great view of the city. After getting past the red light area where the Moulin rouge is Monmartre has beautiful winding streets with loads of great restaurants and bars. Behind the Sacre Coeur is Artist Square, this is a tourist hotspot which is always busy. It’s a bit of a cliché but quite nice to walk through, artists sit around the square painting portraits and landscapes. I love Monmartre as it has a real Parisian atmosphere.

It’s just how you imagine Paris!
We had a day, all too short, and spent 3 hours wandering around this lovely place. A beautiful, bright blue, cloudless sky just made it even more fantastic.
The only downside were the aggressive, persitent, slightly scary touts and beggars around the base of the Sacre Coeur. I remember my last trip to Paris a few years back had the same problem; maybe they need to look at this.
However, as we ony had a day, the rest of it was spent in relative comfort on a tour bus.
Love the city.xx

Me and My girlfriend stayed in Montmarte in May of this year a great base from which to explore Paris and a really nice area to explore too - no visit to Paris would be complete with a good stroll through montmarte

Montmartre’s most famous landmark, Sacre Coeur, sits high above Paris and is visible from much of the city. However, in contrast to its grandeur, much of Montmartre retains a village-like feel. Before climbing the hill, it’s worth having a look at the area round the metro station of Abbesses: you come out onto an attractive square with the unusual brick-and-mosaic church of St Jean. There are small, interesting bars and shops which range from antiques to modern design.

To climb up to Sacre Coeur, you have a range of choices: take the relatively leisurely route up rue Lepic which can be steep but isn’t precipitous; if you’re feeling really fit, take the flight of stairs straight up; or for a lazier alternative, there’s the funicular. At the top, the Place Dutertre is crammed with artists and tourists; the constant offers of portraits can get irritating. Early morning is probably the best time to look around here, before most tourists arrive. A few steps, though, takes you into the quieter village heart of Montmartre where its history of artists, musicians and cabaret is still to the fore. Look for Montmartre’s last vineyard, the painted sign on the Lapin Agile cabaret, and memorial plaques, signs and pieces of art all around.

To really get a feel for the area and its history, wander around the Musee de Montmartre. This museum will take you back to a time when the area was full of windmills and vines, introduce you to the famous artists and writers who lived here, and explain just why the building of Sacre Coeur was very controversial.