The main square on Montmartre with Sacre Coeur in the distance
If you have the time to take a trip out to this hill, you’ll enjoy it. Not least the Sacre Coeur church at the top, but also the artists square in the village centre surrounded by traditional cafes. There’s a funicular to help with the steep steps in front of the church but bear in mind that Monmartre is particularly busy on Sundays. There are lots of souvenir shops here too which detract a bit from the lovely setting, however if you’re in the market for this kind of thing, the prices here are much cheaper than those of the Champs Elysees. Our favourite Metro stop is Lamark Caulincourt (which you might recognise from the film Amelie). Then walk up the steps and keep climbing till you get there! This is an extract from our free Paris City Guide.
The view from Sacre Coeur in Montmartre
Other things to look out for in Montmartre include the bakers shop, which is one of the oldest in Paris, but still serves lovely baguettes today, the water tower which seems to stand guard over the whole hill, the mini vineyard on Rue Saint Vincent and the many beautiful passageways with stairs and railings.
If you’re a fan of the movie Amelie, then you will recognised many of the locations in Montmartre including the lovely garden park in front of Sacre Coeur. There are a number of tours you can take to get the most out of this beautiful part of Paris including the Montmartre Walking Tour and if you love taking pictures, you’re sure to enjoy the Montmartre Photography Tour.
A traditional Montmartre shop
LOCATION & MAP
Montmartre is located to the North East of the centre of Paris, not far from Gare du Nord. There are no Metro stations at the top of the hill, but there are several choices for arriving at the bottom and walking up it. Apart from Lamark Caulincourt mentioned above, you can also get off the Metro at Abesses, Anvers or Chateau Rouge. From Anvers or Absesses the best route up the hill is through the lovely gardens leading up to Sacre Coeur.
MORE ON MONTMARTRE
Hotels near Montmartre/Sacre Coeur – Great deals from Hotels.com
More Paris hotels – Massive discounts from Expedia
Montmartre Walking Tour – From our Paris Tours pages
Montmartre Photography Tour - Discover a perfect location for taking photos
Prices for Amelie on DVD
Wikipedia - Montmartre page
24 hours in Montmartre – Independent Newspaper
Paris Guide Books - Amazon.co.uk
