2012/10/21

Montmartre

Sacré Cœur Basilica — The Basilique du Sacré Cœur.

Today we head for the hills. Montmartre is the hilltop district on the Right Bank capped by the Sacré Cœur basilica. Back in the day, wheat was grown here and milled into flour in the many mills, or moulins. Only a couple windmills survive today.

We walked here from our hotel, but first we will pass through the Pigalle section, which is where the famed Moulin Rouge nightclub is located. Of course, its heyday was during the Belle Époque, those peaceful times before World War I. Today, it is only a tourist attraction.

Moulin Rouge Art — Artwork on the Moulin Rouge's sign.

Chimneys — Lots of chimneys atop a building on Place Blanche in Pigalle.

Moulin Rouge — The red mill, formerly a flour mill, then a popular theater where the risqué can-can was made popular, now it's a tourist destination.

From here, it’s uphill along the scalloped streets. We passed by Van Gogh’s residence in the 1880s, and before we knew it we were atop the hill. Once on top of the plateau, we encountered the Moulin de la Galette made famous by Renoir. There was also a small park filled with French boy scouts and a decapitated bishop.

Saint Denis — The statue of St. Denis, the bishop of Paris, stands in the square where the Romans beheaded him in the 3rd century.

The Moulin de la Galette, a restaurant and dance hall where Renoir painted Le Bal de Moulin de la Galette in 1876.

Parisian Boy Scouts — Boy scouts in a Paris playground.

This is a charming neighborhood with a distinct feel—its narrow streets survived Haussmann’s rebuilding of Paris in the 18th century. During the Belle Époque, the area became a Bohemian district and drew Dalí, Monet, Mondrian, Picasso, and many others. Today, it is mainly for the tourists.

Montmartre's Rue Cortot — The narrow Rue Cortot in the Montmartre is lined with beautiful, old houses.

Montmartre Street — A bend in a Montmartre street.

Montmartre Cafe — A cafe in the ancient streets of the Montmartre.

Sacré Cœur View — A view of the Sacré Cœur down a narrow Montmartre alley.

Table for Two — A cafe in the Montmartre.

Perched atop the great hill like a hood ornament is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, or the Sacré Cœur. Construction began in 1875, but the basilica was not consecrated until after World War I. Because the sun is out today, the steps in front of the basilica are mobbed with people taking in the view of Paris below. We ventured inside, but they were in the midst of a service. So, we, and the other tourists, were quietly prodded along the interior’s perimeter.

Montmartre View — The view of Paris from the Sacré Cœur.

Scaré Cœur Stairs — People clog the steps to the Sacré Cœur. Opposite is a view of Paris from the top of the Montmartre.

After we had our fill of the hazy view, we ventured down the long staircase called Rue Foyatier, which is beside the funicular. There was a lot of street art, and a lot of people huffing their way up. Once we reached the bottom, we explored the park directly below the basilica, but we were accosted by people offering us a free bracelet. Hard to shake these guys, but we had a decent conversation.

Staircase View — A view of the Sacré Cœur from the staircase.

Weepy Street Art — A burst of art along the staircase up to the Sacré Cœur.

Stairs to Sacré Cœur — The long staircase to the Sacré Cœur. The funicular is to the right.

Below the Sacré Cœur — Looking up toward the Sacré Cœur basilica.

Next, we’re headed for another high point in Paris.