Montmartre 18th arr. of Paris

Paris - 18th arrondissement 'butte-montmartre' (75018)

The 18th arrondissement in the north of Paris is a multicultural and vibrant part of the city that is rich in history that can leave visitors with the feeling that they have actually stepped out of the city and entered back to the villages of bygone times.

Hotels in 18th arrondissement

Here is a quick introduction to the 18th arrondissement of Paris, the video above is one of Jay Swanson's 20 in 20 days series - enjoy it as an introduction to Paris' 18th.

As a first-time visitor to Paris you may be drawn to the 18th arrondissement (district) no doubt, by the charm of the former village of Montmartre in the
Clignancourt neighbourhood of Paris but it also encompasses the neighbourhoods of Grandes-Carrières, Goutte d'Or and La Chapelle, all of which had been swallowed up over time by the expanding city boundaries.

Find a hotel here...

Clignancourt / Montmartre

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT MONTMARTRE IN PARIS?

Montmartre was originally a small village on the outskirts of Paris. Its name means “mountain of the martyr” as it is said that the patron saint of Paris, Saint Denis, was beheaded here on the hill of Montmartre in the 3rd century AD.

Montmartre and the 18th arrondissement attracts mainly tourists these days but at the end the 19th century it was writers, poets, and painters who were attracted to the neighborhood to work and live. You may have thought it was for the ambiance the area offered,spectacular views over Paris,or perhaps the cheaper rents but apparently a major factor was that at the time, Montmartre was still officially outside the city limits and wine wasn't subject to Parisian taxes! Artists who took inspiration from Montmartre include Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Salvador Dalí and Gen Paul.
You will of course still find many 'artists' plying their trade today in the busy Place du Tertre, all vying for the tourist euro.

Here you can simply stroll the winding cobbled streets,climb or ride the funicular up to the top of the Butte Montmartre and the basilica of the Sacré Coeur and take in the views,then you can sit and people watch at one of the many bars and bistros in the area or head back down and go in search of ‘Amélie’ if you are looking for that familiar scene that perhaps, for you,was the allure of Paris.
Plus there is so much more to do do and see here...

WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN THE 18TH ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS.

SACRE-COEUR

MOULIN ROUGE

PLACE DU TERTRE

Sacré Coeur Basilica

Built only at the end of the 19th century, the Sacré-Cœur basilica is located at the top of the Butte Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre ranks along side the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as one of the most iconic buildings in Paris. It is one of the city's most popular tourist destinations attracting nearly 10 million visitors each year.
More here...

Moulin rouge

The Moulin Rouge which opened its doors in 1889, very quickly became a popular place in Parisian nightlife and the shows of the worlds most famous cabaret still attracts large crowds of tourists today! It is the most prestigious cabaret in Paris and still showcases the famous French cancan dancers immortalised in the paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec.
More here...

Place du Tertre

Here,at what was the former main square of the ancient village of Montmartre on the top of Butte Montmartre the easels of painters and portrait artists share the square with the restaurant terraces. Oozing with charm it is one of the most visited places in Paris.
More here...