Paris: Finally checking off Montmartre

Montmatre is one of the few places we did not manage to walk by during our previous visit to Paris. We were reminded of our remiss many times from all the old French films we watched during COVID. The first full day in Paris we were favored with good weather; we made our pilgrimage.

Actually our rooftop room in the 2nd Arrondissement has a view of the Sacre Coeur. I loved slumming it in our shabby room. It made me feel like a young artist from the many films. The films also prepared me for spotting prostitutes in doorways during the daylight hours. How provincial I seem to myself!

Montmartre had a lot of tourists running around. Whatever souls, spirits, etc. the place sheltered - Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Picasso - are long gone. This place appealed to us as little as the Left Bank. I did like the art nouveau church of Saint Jean de Montmartre and the beautiful mosaics in the Sacre Coeur.

We wake up and can see our morning destination, Sacré-Coeur, from our hotel room window. Nice.


The Porte Saint-Denis (who lost his head on the way to Sacré-Coeur).


Our route to Montmartre took us by the Folies Bergere, whose name we know; but their fabulous Art Deco home was a surprise.


Micromobility in Montmartre. First, one of the ubiquitous, swerving, scooters.


A Yokler; the "Professional Electric Cargo Bike"


Stuart (on-demand delivery) uses K-ryole (last kilometre utility vehicle) cargo carriers.


Introducing the "NEW CITROËN AMI 100% ËLECTRIC"!!


The Art Nouveau Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre Church. Don't see many Art Nouveau churches. This one was beautiful inside and out.




Up the stairs to Sacré-Coeur.




The view from Sacre-Coeur towards the Seine.


Sacré-Coeur interior.




Saint-Dennis carries his head.


We ate our picnic lunch in nearby Claude Charpentier Square underneath a water tower made of the same white stone as Sacré-Coeur.


Also in Montmartre is the famous artists square, Place du Tertre. Always busy.




The famous Montmartre view to Sacre-Coeur.


The last surviving Montmartre vineyard.


The windmill.


Conversations in Place Émile-Goudeau where the young Picasso once lived and worked.


A cafe with a view on Place Émile-Goudeau.


Finally, the Moulin Rouge.