A Walking Tour Paris

Walking around Montmartre (Martyrs’ Mount) is like stepping back
into the 19th century. This steep butte, or hill, has long been a haunt
of Bohemian life but is now more a mecca for tourists. Artists, writers,
poets and prostitutes crammed into the cosy bars and cafés, making
this one of the city’s liveliest, if louche, areas in the 19th century.
The artistic world has long since vanished, but the streets are still
charming, with their twisting cobbled lengths suddenly giving way
to steep staircases leading down to tiny squares full of charm and
character. There are even some surprising remnants of the area’s rural
past, with Paris’ last vineyard and a number of windmills – including
of course the world-famous Moulin-Rouge.

Place du Tertre is Montmartre’s old village square and it is full of
art stalls. For those with a more discerning eye, there is the Espace
Dali Montmartre or La Halle Saint Pierre. Montmartre also has some
wonderful architecture, including some interesting churches like
St-Pierre de Montmartre and St-Jean l’Evangéliste de Montmartre, as
well as the one that takes its name from the Christian martyrs that
gave the area its name in the 3rd century: the Chapelle du Martyre. Of
course no trip to Montmartre would be complete without a visit to the
most spectacular church of them all, Sacré-Coeur – its front
steps command simply unforgettable views of the city.