Monday, July 6, 2015

Magical Montmartre

There's a lot to love about Montmartre, that beautiful butte on the Parisian skyline. In fact, if you approach it from the Abbesses metro, you'll soon see the famous "I Love You" installation, with these words written in dozens of languages.

 

(A diversion: Butte is defined as an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top. This leads me to wonder if the slang for our posteriors -- butt -- was derived from this French word.)


Our guide to this part of Paris was Peter of Peter's Paris, a site I'd  recommend every Francophile and French tourist for its wonderful history and photo posts. One of the best parts of blogging is meeting people around the world and when Peter learned Rick and I were coming to Paris, he kindly offered to take us to Montmartre. He's highly qualified -- Peter volunteers as a tour guide in the City of Light and as you can see from his blog, knows his stuff well!


I could take you on a virtual tour but I fear it would be far too long a post so let me leave you with a few things I love about this part of Paris. Some may seem silly but together they form a divine picture of a very old part of Paris. Let's start with the views. This is hilly territory. Whether you are looking at the views of Sacre Coeur from Montmartre's streets....


....or looking at Paris from one of the terrific lookout points, you have splendid eye candy. Winding streets, a variation in landscape, it's all there.



Speaking of eye candy, it is a wisteria lover's dream city. How I wish I could do this in my own yard!



There's history in Montmartre, too, and plenty of it. Numerous artists and musicians, particularly from the Impressionist period and the early part of the century, created some of their best work here and joined in grand evenings at the bar Lapin Agile.


Montmartre recognizes some of these with placques, such as Eric Satie. You can learn about others at Montmartre's museums, if you don't have a Peter around to help guide you!


You'll want to stop for a snack or lunch here. Peter knew a wonderful brasserie where we enjoyed champagne and a lovely lunch.


I took the photo below to remind me of the name, but I can't tell in the glare. Peter, if you see this post and can remember, will you please add it in the comments?!



I loved the cemetery here. Parisian cemeteries are like a walk through history and this one is no exception with the gravesites of Jacques Offenbach, Hector Berlioz, guitarist Fernando Sor, and Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, among countless others.



The graves are beautiful and unique and the setting, a beautiful hillside (of course), was lovely, even on a rainy day.


Although I didn't realize it when I took this photo of a cat hiding out in the rain, our Marmelade Gypsy was making his way to his own end and four months later that cat I would adopt -- Lizzie Cosette -- would look just like this one.


A big thanks to Peter for showing Rick and me this beautiful spot of Paris. For me it was a second visit to Montmartre. I had seen it three years before with my friend Jerry, visiting the Place du Tertre, where artists paint all day, catering to the tourists and where we enjoyed a sunset picnic on the steps of Sacre Coeur. For Rick, it was the first time and for both of us, new discoveries.


This post is part of Paris in July, a wonderful summer blog event hosted by Tamara at Thyme for Tea, where you can find additional posts about the city of light and the books and films it has inspired. Enjoy!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely photos. And you look so happy and pretty.

Paulita said...

Jeannie, I love Montmartre too. What terrific photos and history you've shared here.

Nadia said...

What great photos! Montmartre looks beautiful!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I did a walking tour of the Montmartre area the last time I was in Paris and thought it was such a neat area of Paris. That is great that Peter was able to show you around as it helps so much to be with someone who is familiar with the area and can point out some of the lesser known sights! It is such a neat area of Paris and like you said, the views that it offers are stunning!

Jeanie said...

I loved reading this and seeing your pictures. Our hotel in Montmartre was right at the Abbesses metro and the back garden of our hotel was right behind the "I Love You" installation. The whole area is wonderful.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

What fun photos! We visited many of the same spots, I'm sure, but we did our own tour of writer's haunts. Hemingway, Faulkner, Beckett, Joyce. The history boggles the mind. An incredibly beautiful city.

Esme said...

What a great post. It looks like you had so much fun and you look so happy.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

This was our very last destination in Paris before we came back home. We were fatigued from an eight week tour of France and Italy, but nothing disappointed. Ruben had his first Nutella crêpe there, we bought a tapestry and I was enchanted with Sacre Coeur.....oh Jeanie, what wonder.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

We only made a quick stop at Montmartre, so I love this lingering look you have given us!

Here's my Paris in July post!

Mary Rose's said...

I found your brasserie! Okay, Google and Photoshop helped.
It's LA MASCOTTE 52, rue des Abbesses (18e) C01 46062815

(I used Photoshop to remove much of the glare, then searched Google to match the phone number painted on the door.)

Let's go there for lunch today! Yeah!
XOXOX
Maryanne

Little Wandering Wren said...

Wow - Kudos to Mary Rose above! What a great post takes me back, thanks for the wonderful memories of this great city.
Wren x

Anonymous said...

Hi Jeanie! Oh, I loved this post! We've been to Paris 3 times and I've been to a few of these same places! Love Paris and by your pretty smile, I can tell you did too!
Enjoy your trip.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Molly said...

Montmartre is my most favorite spot in the world! I LOVE your photos ... they brought back such fond memories.

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Beautiful photos, it looks heavenly!

Tammie Lee said...

it sounds
and looks
as though you had a wonderful time there!

Janet said...

When you do your travel posts I always feel like I've been on vacation with you! Your photos are beautiful and your writing is great.

Marilyn Miller said...

I do remember your visit here. How wonderful to revisit and see the cat like your Lizzie.

Maggie said...

Thanks for the tour, I love to go to Paris but all too often I'm just sitting in a taxi looking out at the sights as I head to Charles de Gaulle airport. Crazy really when I could be there within a couple of hours by car or train!
When are you coming back, remember we have a date to meet there one day!

~*~Patty S said...

Oh your post brings back some sweet memories from my trip to Paris many many years ago. Lucky you getting to see the Wisteria in bloom too = BONUS! For me a giant bouquet of peonies in a sweet little cafe in Montmartre is among some very special memories.
And lucky you also to have such a capable and generous guide to enhance your visit.
Lovely post Jeanie!
oxo

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Hi Jeanie! Thank you for stopping by my blog; yes, we purchased those paintings in Carmel. There are three more that I did not show, but we are enjoying them to the hilt!!!!!!

Louise said...

What a wonderful day you had Jeannie. Your pictures are lovely, and so atmospheric. I've only made two (hurried) visits to Montmartre and never really enjoyed the area- it always feels a bit touristy and crowded. Wisteria and champagne makes for a good day though, and what a fantastic guide in Peter.

The French Hutch said...

Oh Jeanie, I sure needed this today! Montmartre is one of our favorites places to visit in Paris. i love the streets, shops and the views. Your trip looks as though you were enjoying every step. Peter sounds just the right one to give you a tour. Great pics and I've looked at all of them several times. I love Paris, thanks for the tour.........Hugs sweet friend.

Sharon said...

Lovely photos, you make me want to visit Paris again soon. Loved the cat photo, and story, my own marmalade companion is getting on but we have three others, all rescues, as much as I love them they do make travel a bit harder.

The Artful Diva said...

You and I have been to many of the same places. Wouldn't it be wonderful to look up one day and see each other in Paris!

Bellezza said...

I love these amazing photographs of Paris that you have been showing, from the Agile Rabbit (Au Lapin Agile) to Eric Satie...oh, how I love his music! xo

Tamara said...

I feel like i've just been to Montmatre - your post is a wonderful virtual tour. I remember some of these sites, but there's always more to discover isn't there. You're doing a great job of sharing the character of Paris with us.

skiourophile said...

Lovely photos! - you make me so want to go back and explore properly. I think I've missed a lot of the charm that hides behind the touristy areas.

Teddyree said...

What fab photos, you can almost feel the character and charm. We are thinking of staying in Montmartre on our next trip. Thanks so much for sharing :)

Popular Posts