This hilly walk takes in some of the most interesting historical
sights around
Montmartre. Allow 3 hours or more.
Starting from
[1]
Blanche metro, head West to the famous
[2] Moulin
Rouge [82 Bvde de Clichy], which has been entertaining adults
with its cabaret act since 1889.
Now head North up Rue Lepic, passing
[3]
Café des Deux Moulins [15 Rue Lepic] where Amélie
worked as a waitress in the film of the same name. Going up the
hill, you will see on your right
[4
Van Gogh's house [54 Rue Lepic] where he lived
during his two year stay in Paris (1886-1888). Around the bend, turn
left at Rue Tourlaque, where on the next corner you will find the
house where
[5] Toulouse
Lautrec lived in 1884 [7 Rue Tourlaque].
Continue up Rue Lepic, and on the left before turning into Rue
Giarardon, is
[6] Moulin de la
Galette, the windmill referred to in Renoir's 1876 famous
painting
Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre .
At the intersection with Avenue Junot, at Place Marcel Aymé, is the
unusual sculpture depicting the title of Ayme's story
[7]
Le Passe-Muraille (Walker-through-walls).
Turn right into Place Dalida, passing the busty bronze memorial to
the singer
Dalida
(the only recipient ever from the music industry
to receive the
Médaille de la Présidence de la République),
and continue into Rue Cortot.
At 12 Rue Cortot is the
[8]
Musee Montmartre. The charming garden alone is
worth a visit. Once a home to Pierre-Auguste Renoir (see Renoir's
1876 painting
The
Garden in the Rue Cortot, Montmartre), the museum presents
the Bohemian history of this 800 year old area.
Now retrace your steps and turn left up Rue des Saules to
[9] Espace
Montmartre Salvador Dali [11, Rue Poulbot]. This museum contains
an outstanding collection of Dali's surrealist sculptures and
illustrations.
Continue around the
Place du Tertre with its
artists and souvenir shops to the tiny
[10] Church of St. Pierre de
Montmartre [2, rue du Mont-Cenis] and the oldest cemetary in Paris (
Le Calvaire). Despite its contemporary
appearance, this church dates back to the 12th century and is
apparently the location at which the Jesuit order of priests was
founded.
Follow the inevitable procession of people around the bend to the
beautiful
[11] Sacre
Coeur Basilica. You have now reached the highest point in Paris.
Take a break, sit on the steps and admire the Parisian skyline before
heading down the hill.
Follow the road along to
[12] the top of
the funicular and proceed down the steps to the right. About halfway
down, turn right into Rue Gabrielle and follow this along to
[13] Bateau-
Lavoir [13 Rue Ravignan, Place Emile Goudeau], home to many
artists in the early 20th century, the most famous being Pablo
Picasso (and his dog Frika). Follow Rue Ravignan down to Rue des
Abbesses, turn left and left again into Place des Abbesses, where,
again on your left, you will find the rather obscure Square des Jehan
Rictus with the artistic work
[14]
"I love
you" written in some 300 languages! Written in white on blue
enamel tiles, the red marks are supposed to represent broken hearts.
This concludes the walk. The metro
Abessess is
right next to the Square, otherwise
Pigalle metro is
only 400 metres to the South.
