Montmartre & Sacré Coeur, Paris

Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris.
It is 130 metres high and gives its name to the surrounding district, in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district.
The other, older, church on the hill is Saint Pierre de Montmartre, which claims to be the location at which the Jesuit order of priests was founded. Many artists had studios or worked around the community of Montmartre such as Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, Claude Monet, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
Montmartre is also the setting for several hit films. This site is served by metro line 2 stations of Anvers, Pigalle and Blanche and the line 12 stations of Pigalle, Abbesses, Lamarck - Caulaincourt and Jules Joffrin.

You can watch my 1 min 01 sec Video Paris Monmartre out of my Youtube channel or here on VT.

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On the small place situated on the opposite corner to the "Lapin Agile" in Montmartre, i.e. at the crossroads of rues des Saules and St. Vincent, you'll find apposed on the wall this plaque dedicated to the memory of Roland Dorgeles. Born Roland Lecavelé, he became a journalist and then a writer. After coming back from WW1 he wrote his most well known work "Les Croix de Bois"-"The wooden crosses", based on his war experiences, which narrowly missed the Prix Goncourt (a famous literary prize) in 1919. He entered the Goncourt Acadamy in 1929 and was president from 1954 until his death in 1973. His plaque is here looking down on the "Lapin Agile", his favourite haunt during many years.

On the plaque is one of his citations "I hate the war but I love those that have been there".

On one of the other corners are the famous Montmartre vineyards with the wall of the St. Vincent cemetery on the fourth corner, where is his last resting place.

Lamarck-Caulaincourt is the closest metro.

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Started around 1760 by a Mr. Pierre Deruelle who bought the land from his mother in law in then Clignancourt and started up a porcelain factory. Competing directly with the Sevres factory, it became difficult when Clignancourt was not allowed to use gold as per Sevres, fo rdecoration. Finally in 1787 the factory was allowed the gold and had an upsurge in demand, necessitating up to over 90 workers. Unfortunately after the Revolution, having lost most of the rich clientele to flight or the guillotine, the factory had a downturn and finally closed in1800. Another attempt was made a few years later but didn't last long. The majority of the buildings were demolished in the early 1900's except for this corner tower and part of the adjacent building, which has now been saved as a historic monument since 1965.

Situated at 63 rue Mont de Cenis, 75018 Paris.

Nearest metro is Jules Joffrin

After our ceremonies we were given a private tour of the Sacre Couer, Place du Tertre, and private places by Mayor Yatt. It was such a lovely and memorable morning.

If anyone is interested in doing either the Wedding or Baptsim, click on the link below, and all details about the ceremonies are listed.

This is another 'landmark' from the film 'Amelie'. It is M Collignon's grocery store, where Amelie bought her fruit and veg from. The film renamed the building 'Maison Collignon, and this still remains above the shop.
The owner has now created his own website below, tracing the steps of Amelie's adventures

Address: 56 rue des Trois Freres, 75018 Paris
Closed Mondays.

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Lying between 65 rue Lepic and 23 avenue Junot is an un-named alleyway that is part of what was known as the "maquis" of Montmartre, wild and unlawful. Here at the top of the staircase sits a rock known locally as "Witches Rock" or Rocher de la Sorciere. UPDATE - 14/08/2010 : Unfortunately it is no longer possible to take this passage due to subsidence under the steps that lead down and present a real danger

Anecdote : The Henri-Georges Clouzot film "L'Assassin habite au numero 21" "The murderer lives at no. 21", supposedly 21, Avenue Junot. But there has never been a no. 21, the numbers jump from 15 to 23.

Whilst here, at the corner of no. 25 Avenue Junot is the exquisite "Villa Leandre", another mouth-watering cul-de-sac that in the middle of a city shouldn't be there.

Look closely on the pavement around nos. 43/47 av. Junot and try and spot the brass plates marked "Arago" that mark the passage of the Paris meridien.

Lamarck-Caulaincourt is the closest metro.

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Two very unusual houses in this street, the first at no. 2 being the more well known, as Maurice Utrillo painted it around 1912, known as "La Maison Rose". Still a bar/restaurant and being in one of the most touristy areas of Paris is expensive. Menus start at 35 euros.

Just down the road is a far more interesting house at no. 4 that was lived in by Commandant Henri Lachouque, historian of Napoleon and the Great Army. At the front gate are two examples of the "Imperial Eagle" and on the right hand side is a sundial with the inscription "Quand tu sonneras, je chanterais"" When you ring I will sing". Just below this there is a plaque giving details of the Commandant.

Nearest metro is Lamarck-Caulaincourt.

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These are the only two windmills left on Montmartre out of the 30 that were here originally. Collectively, the two are known as Moulin de la Galette from the cabarets name. The oldest one of Montmartre, is the Moulin Blute-Fin, between nos. 75 and 77 rue Lepic, built in 1622, still has its mechanism inside. Unfortunately cannot be visited. The one that is still open as a restaurant was built in 1717 and called the Moulin Radet is at 83 rue Lepic, but was moved here in 1924 from a little way down the hill. All is classed "Historic Monument" since 1958.

Metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt is probably a little bit closer than Abbesses.

The telephone and site address below are given if you fancy a special night out........

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Le tabac des deux moulins is the little bar where the very well-known Amélie was filmed! It looks so nice & cozy & everything's almost the same as in the movie. If you've seen the film, you'll recognize all inside but the cigarette kiosk - it doesn't exist. And if you remember the toilet [and what happened inside] be sure to click to see the other photo... ;)

I took Robert Frost's suggestion to "take the road less travelled" literally when I decided to take every side street possible on the way to the Sacre Coeur. No funicular. No tourists en route. Should you choose to do the same, you'll be amazed when you find amazing boulangeries, patisseries, and cafes throughout what has come to be one of may favorite areas: Montmartre.

Don't be afraid of getting lost. If you keep walking uphill, you'll eventually find the basilica. If you get tired, who cares? It's reason enough to take a break for a cafe creme.