Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Montmartre & Pigalle
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur
SQUARE
PLACE DU TERTRE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Abbesses)
It would be hard to miss the place du Tertre, one of the most touristy spots in all of Paris.
Although today it's filled with visitors, buskers and portrait artists, it was originally the
main square of the village of Montmartre before it was incorporated into the city proper.
One of the more popular claims of Montmartre mythology is staked to La Mère Catherine
at No 6: in 1814, so it's said, Cossack soldiers first introduced the term bistro (Russian for
'quickly') into the French lexicon. Another big moment came on Christmas eve 1898, when
Louis Renault's first car was driven up the Butte to the place du Tertre, igniting the start of
the French auto industry.
CHURCH
ÉGLISE ST-PIERRE DE MONTMARTRE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Abbesses)
This church, all that remains of the former Benedictine Abbey of Montmartre, dates back to
the 12th century and is one of the oldest in Paris, though it has been much restored. Built
atop a Roman temple to Mars, it was witness to the founding of the Jesuits in 1534, who met
in the crypt under the guidance of Ignatius of Loyola.
Some say that the name Montmartre is derived from 'Mons Martis' (Latin for Mount of
Mars); others prefer the Christian 'Mont Martyr' (Mount of the Martyr), a reference to the
3rd-century St Denis, who, according to legend, walked across Montmartre and on to the
site of today's Basilique St-Denis after having been beheaded by Roman priests.
MUSEUM
MUSÉE DE MONTMARTRE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.museedemontmartre.fr ; 12 rue Cortot, 18e; adult/child €9/5;
10am-6pm; Lamarck-Caulaincourt)
The Montmartre Museum displays paintings, lithographs and documents mostly relating to
the area's rebellious and bohemian past. It's located in one of the oldest houses in Mont-
martre, a 17th-century manor home where over a dozen artists, including Renoir and Utrillo,
once lived. Suzanne Valadon's restored studio was set to open here at the time of writing.
The gift shop sells small bottles of the wine produced from grapes grown in the Clos
Montmartre.
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