The name of the neighbourhood comes from Latin Mons Martyrum and means “Hill of Martyrs.” It is associated with the quite creepy story of the first bishop of Paris, Saint Denis. He was beheaded by the Romans for not renouncing his faith. Afterwards, he collected his severed head and walked with it down the hill, where he finally dropped dead. So much the legend, but before it got world-famous, Montmartre was a simple, sleepy village set on the hill surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and orchards. As many as 13 mills were built on its slopes to grind wheat, barley, and rye. Of those only two survived and now people around the world recognize the mill as a symbol of this fascinating neighbourhood.
But finally the time has come when this sleepy village changed forever. Because of its many drinking establishments, cheap wine, low rents and specific, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, 19th century Montmartre became the hotbed where many artists from all corners of the world were flocking in. Who can tell what was first? The dancing halls, cafés, and cabarets like Le Chat Noir or Moulin Rouge where girls dancing the cancan were throwing their legs up indecently high or the artists settling down there and allowing for all that to happen. One is certain, Montmartre became the most interesting neighbourhood in Paris (and perhaps in the entire world) at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Who has not lived, worked (drank, took drugs, had sex…) there? Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec to name just a few.
Today Montmartre lures everyone with its colourful history, anecdotes, and scandals associated with the artistic community once living here, but it does not only dwell on the past! It is still one of the most intriguing Parisian quarters. A place looking as if it were taken straight from a fairy tale, with its steep, winding streets and crooked buildings overgrown with ivy. At almost every corner there is a café, restaurant, or drinking parlour you want to stop at. No wonder that until the present day it is loved both by artists, photographers, film directors as well as Parisians and tourists who are combing the streets in search of places famous from hit movies filmed here.
Join our tour to discover our favourite district of Paris and let yourself be enchanted by one and only Montmartre!
During this tour, you will see and discover:
- Moulin Rouge
- Cafe deux moulins (Cafe known from the film “Amelie”)
- Van Gogh’s house
- Moulin d’ la Galette
- Place des Abbesses
- ︎Studios Picasso/Modigliani
- Vineyard/Oldest Cabaret in Paris
- Sacré Coeur Basilica
