From iconic architecture to the French Resistance France is famous for its storied history. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the cobblestone streets of Paris’s 2,000-year-old hilltop Montmartre district.
Montmartre’s architecture can be used to trace the whole history of the place. In the 19th century, the foundations of a Roman temple were discovered, adding a layer of intrigue to this part of Paris. The temple is dedicated to Mercury, who in Roman mythology was, among other things, the god of interpreters and translators, as well as wealth and good fortune. This is perhaps quite fitting for the haven of artistic expression and indulgence in life’s pleasures that Montmartre would later become known for.
The Sacré-Cœur is a Roman Catholic church built with stones containing calcin, a substance the stones produce when it rains that helps them (or at least the ones that the rain touches) maintain a pristine white appearance. This means that the building, situated on the highest point of Montmartre, looks as elegant today as it did when it was first finished in 1923. It is for this reason that the church remains the second most popular monument to visit in Paris.
The architectural attraction of this region for some of the most famous painters in history was le Bateau Lavoir. An iconic symbol of the art world of Montmartre’s past, the building was an old piano factory nicknamed by French poet Max Jacob. It translates in English to ‘the Laundry Boat’, in reference to its dark and dirty interior and the way it swayed in the wind on cold and rainy days, reminding Jacob of the laundry boats found on the Seine River.
Le Bateau Lavoir was converted into artists’ studios in 1889, each occupied by many an important face as the years went by, including painters Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, as well as novelist Gertrude Stein, all of whom made lives for themselves in Montmartre. The original building was destroyed in a fire in 1970, leaving only the front façade standing. However, it was completely rebuilt in 1978 and remains a popular spot for tourists and art lovers alike to this day. If you’re keen to watch painters work in real time, la Place du Tertre is also a great location to visit.
Another prominent part of Montmartre’s architecture is its windmills, which can be found throughout this area. But one of its most famous is the one that sits atop the Moulin Rouge, the club known for its lavish cabaret shows. While the building as it once was burnt down in 1915, the Moulin Rouge as it stands today is just as magnificent and eloquent as its predecessor, with many a glamorous show to indulge in.
Montmartre is an incredibly popular part of France, and therefore very expensive to live in. But if you are lucky enough to find yourself on holiday in Paris, a trip to this iconic hilltop district will inspire your creativity, and its mesmerising sights will have you feeling like you have travelled back in time.
