When you're in Paris, Montmartre is a must-see.
Many are drawn to the white domed Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, or Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the highest point in all of Paris.
And how could you not? It is impressive.
From all sides and angles.
Others are drawn to the bawdy cabaret and can can dance of Moulin Rouge, featured in the 2001 film with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
Also, but perhaps not equally as popular, is the lively entertainment options that neighbor the club.
Others are drawn to the bohemian spirit that Montmartre invokes, seen best at Place du Tetre, the town square of Montmartre.
And there are countless other nooks and crannies to explore.
You can see Paris' last remaining vineyard, dating from the 12th century, Clos Montmartre, which still produces about 300 liters of wine annually.
You can explore Au Lapin Agile, Montmartre's place to see and to be seen. Artists, like Picasso and Renoir, would go to listen to everything from poetry and parodies, to rumblings of underground unrest.
Consider lunch at La Maison Rose, the Pink House, the subject of a famous lithograph by Maurice Utrillo. While the food reviews at this Montmartre bistro are more mediocre than stellar, you can't beat the location or the history.
While in Montmartre, explore Le Bateau-Lavoir, Picasso's one time studio and artist commune. It is said that it was there that Picasso met the lovely Fernande Olivier, who brought the Spanish artist from his "Blue Period" to his "Rose Period." From there, it became a hotbed of action in the artist and bohemian community, luring such personalities as Gertrude Stein and Henri Rousseau.
An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris. -Friedrich Nietzsche
And then there's the markets. Ooh la la!
“In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport.”
~Julia Child
If you're looking for a place to go for a café au lait and a brioche, consider Café des dos moulins...made famous in the quirky 2001 comedy, Amélie.
And before you leave, be sure to explore Moulin de la Galette, a windmill near the top of Montmartre, serving as an open air dance hall and eatery, where wealthy Parisians would go to enjoy wine and bread, ground by the windmill itself.
Made famous by Renoir in his famous painting, Bal du Moulin de la Galette, this area was frequented by many artists, including Renoir himself, who saw the masterpiece, not as a whole scene specifically, but rather as a series of portraits.
Image courtesy of wikipedia.
There's a reason people fall in love with Paris. It really does have that je ne sais quoi.
But when your credit cards need a break from their workout on Champs-Élysées and you've taken all the pictures you can of Le Tour Eiffel, consider exploring the other neighborhoods that may seem off the beaten path.
Channel your inner bohemian and walk the walk of Pablo Picasso or Gertrude Stein or Ernest Hemingway. Let yourself be taken away, even for an afternoon, and see Paris through their eyes.
You can’t escape the past in Paris, and yet what’s so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn't seem to burden." ~Allen Ginsberg
Bon voyage!