Remember that the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, which should be visited at the end, sits on the crest of the hill, so as long as you are heading uphill there is little possibility of being lost for long.
Today Montmartre is talked about by Parisians the way New Yorkers talk about ‘the Village’: ‘it's not what it used to be,’ ‘it's like Disneyland,’ ‘the artists can't afford to live here’ are some common complaints. But in truth, most of the great bohemians left after the outbreak of World War I.
During what is referred to as the Belle Époque, many notable artists lived and worked in Montmartre from 1872 to 1914, where the rents were low and the atmosphere congenial to expression. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy and Maurice Utrillo all shared the same address at different times - 12 rue Cartot - which is now the Musée de Montmartre. Renoir's famous windmill, the Moulin de la Galette, is at the top of the district.
Picasso painted one of his most important masterpieces, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, whilst living here; Vincent van Gogh, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, Henri Matisse and Edgar Degas all worked in Montmartre and drew some inspiration from the area.
Montmartre still has a great feel, and is also home to two notable churches that are both well worth seeing: the Sacré-Coeur and Saint-Pierre de Montmartre. The district's high altitude - though not quite the mountain its name suggests, it is certainly quite a hill - offers views over Paris rivalled only by the Eiffel Tower.
Start your tour at metro Blanche and gradually enter the district on a pilgrimage into the place that nurtured France's great artists. Try to lose yourself in the steep and cobbled streets of one of the most historic and interesting neighbourhoods in Paris.
Experience the highlights of Paris, the City of Lights and romance on this fabulous half-day private driving tour in a vintage 2CV with your expert driver guide.
On your private tour, you will:
Paris – the city of lights! What better way to tour this most romantic of cities than on a driving tour in a vintage 2CV!
On this half tour of Parisian highlights, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at locations of your choice, then begin with a drive up the Champs Elysees. Paris’s famous shopping avenue, named for the Elysian Fields, culminates with the iconic Arc de Triomphe, a monument to those who fought and died during the Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and World Wars.
Drive to Opera Garnier (site of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for more snaps, and then the stunning Place Vendôme, home of the Paris Ritz, featuring a monument to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805. You’ll drive around Place de la Concorde (the largest square in the city), with its obelisk marking the location of the guillotine, under which King Louis XVI was executed.
Drive along the river Seine and see the beautiful Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art gallery, and of course, stop by the Louvre. The former royal palace of the French royals, with its modern glass pyramid and largest, is the grandest museum in Paris.
Explore the wonders of the Latin Quarter, where Hemingway lived, and be famed for its university and the Paris Pantheon. Stand in awe at the gothic masterpiece that is Notre Dame Cathedral – still standing despite the raging fire of 2019. See also the Conciergerie – a former palace, turned jail of the Revolution and today it is still the Paris judiciary.
Take in the outside beauty of Sainte Chappelle (featuring the most impressive stained glass windows in the world). Then, visit the quintessentially French Trocadero where you will have the opportunity to snap some beautiful photos and catch some great views of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.
To conclude this epic tour of the great city of Paris you will head up the hill to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica that looks over the city. Here, you’ll be able to stroll along the cobbled streets of this most colourful and bohemian of neighbourhoods, where you will learn more about the fascinating life and works of Renoir, Picasso, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, all of whom lived and worked here. The perfect way to experience the city if you have limited time, and also a great way to find out what to focus on for the rest of your trip.
Tours can be adapted to suit your needs and interests – just get in contact with us!
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