Where is Montmartre?
Quick answer
Montmartre is a historic neighborhood on a hill in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France. At about 130 m (430 ft), it’s the highest point in the city and is crowned by the white Sacré-Cœur Basilica. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was home to artists including Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec.
What to see
| Sight | What it is |
|---|---|
| Sacré-Cœur Basilica | Gleaming white church completed in 1914 and consecrated in 1919, with views across Paris |
| Place du Tertre | A square where painters still set up easels and sketch portraits |
| Moulin Rouge | The famous cabaret with a red windmill, opened in 1889, birthplace of the modern can-can |
| Le Bateau-Lavoir | The building where Picasso lived and painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon |
| Montmartre vineyard | One of the last vineyards in Paris, with a harvest festival every October |
| Wall of Love | A wall with “I love you” written in more than 250 languages |
The artists’ village
Montmartre was outside Paris until 1860, so it had cheap rents, windmills and lively cabarets. Artists flocked there.
| Artist | Connection |
|---|---|
| Pablo Picasso | Lived and worked at the Bateau-Lavoir, developing Cubism; see what art movement Picasso founded |
| Vincent van Gogh | Lived with his brother Theo on rue Lepic in 1886–1888; see who painted The Starry Night |
| Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec | Painted dancers and posters for the Moulin Rouge |
| Renoir | Painted Bal du moulin de la Galette |
| Amedeo Modigliani | Painted portraits in the area |
Why “Montmartre”?
The name likely means “mountain of the martyr.” According to legend, Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was beheaded on the hill around AD 250, then picked up his head and walked several kilometers while preaching.
In film
The 2001 film Amélie made Montmartre’s cafés and streets famous worldwide, and the musical Moulin Rouge! (2001) was inspired by its cabaret.
Visiting tips
Climb the steps or ride the funicular railway to the top. Mornings are quieter. For Paris’s most famous painting, see where the Mona Lisa is.
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