Exploring Montmartre

Between studying for my finals and finishing up my research report for my internship, 

I took some time to explore a part of Paris that I had yet really discovered: Montmartre. 

Famed as the late 19th century artistic haunt that both inspired and corrupted those who

braved to live there, Montmartre today is just a shadow of its former "glorious" self given the 

commercialization of the area. However, after having followed a guided tour and some 

self guided tours grâce à Paris City Walks, I was able to get a sense of and discover

what Montmartre was during those dark and delightful times, which made me 

understand why many people fall in love with the little neighborhood on the hill of Paris. 

PHOTOS FROM GUIDED TOUR

Stopping by at Amelie Poulin's café, Café des Deux Moulins
her poster is hanging in the far right corner 

A quinessential Montmartre restaurant 

See that sunflower peeking out of that window?
That is where Vincent Van Gogh lived from 1886-1888. 

The famed dance hall, Le moulin de la Galette, at
which would inspire Pierre-August Renoir to paint
arguably his most famous work, "Bal du Moulin de la Galette."

Up hill all the way 

The Montmartre Museum and the last remaining vineyard
of Montmartre. During our tour, the guide said that since this area
had many flourishing vineyards and was considered outside of
Paris just until 1860, this area attracted artists because
it was cheaper to live here (as it was not yet in Paris) and because
the wine was plentiful, hence the initial artistic draw
to this area. 

Apparently, the wine from this vineyard tastes terrible, but
wines from this vineyard are nonetheless collected by wine
connoisseurs at high auction prices, but is never drunk. 

Behind Sacre Coeur 

A view of a rainbow from atop of Sacre Coeur 

                                                                  SELF-GUIDED TOUR
 

I went back to following morning to revisit places and streets that I had learned

about yesterday and see parts of the quarter that I didn't see yesterday. 

A little community park

Mural art:
"To love is to make a mess of things, thus love!"

Misstic, the famous 70s French wall mural artist
"Love, Glory, and Botox"

Taking a bridge over the cemetery of Montmartre 

At the cemetery 

Square of the Bateau-Lavoir, the house
in which Picasso, Modiglani, and other artists lived. 

UGH THE SELFIE STICK 

The dinner and brothel that Van Gogh used to frequent 

Museum of Montmartre at which I learned
all about the quarter's artistic past.
The museum was extensive and at times a bit
overwhelming, but it nonetheless provided
a lot of information regarding Montmartre's Belle Epoch. 

Also the home of Renoir's gardens 

A Toulouse-Latrec Poster 

Last but not least.....

I finally was able to see and catch up with Paloma,
the French student that spent two weeks with my
family and I in California my senior year of high school.
It was SO great to catch up with her again, and
this time, we did so in French, not English ;)