THE DISTRICT / Montmartre

In the north of Paris, the hill on which is built Montmartre is the highest place in Paris. We access to its summit by a funicular or by climbing a staircase of 222 steps. Montmartre remained a village for a long time. Actually it is still the case: you will find small stairs and alleys lit by old lampposts and even a vineyard. On the 19th and early 20th century, it is the place to find paintings and artists, such as Pissaro, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Picasso before they start to like Montparnasse better. The basilica of Sacré-Coeur stands on top, from where there is a panoramic view on the roofs of Paris.

Its most frequented areas are the Place du Tertre, with many painters of poor talent and the Place Pigalle with the Moulin Rouge, cabaret founded in 1889 where they still dance the famous French Cancan, immortalized by Toulouse-Lautrec.