Situated in the middle of Boulevard de Clichy, Pigalle is small in size, but grand in notoriety. In the early 20th century Pigalle was a grim world of pickpockets, prostitutes and strip clubs. Today, Pigalle is grim world of pickpockets, prostitutes and strip clubs, where you can buy a decent kebab. The area’s infamy has been replicated in film many…
Abbesses The historic district of Montmartre is primarily served by two metro lines; line 2 and line 12. Both lines are well connected to other central metro lines and make getting to anywhere in Montmartre easy. Metro Line 2 Paris Metro line 2 runs across the city from east to west. Montmartre sits right in the middle of the…
The present day Moulin de la Galette Immortalised in paint by the likes of Renoir and Van Gogh, the Moulin de la Galette has a storied history in Montmartre. The moulin (windmill) was originally comprised of two mills: le Blute-fin and le Radet. Together the two mills were known as le Moulin du Palais, the first mention of which came…
The Sacré-Cœur is one of the most visited destinations in France. The focal point of Montmartre, the basilica on top of the hill is easy to reach by public transport. Metro The blue line 2 and the green line 12 both take you in walking distance of the Sacré-Cœur. The closest metro stop to the basilica is Anvers on the line 2.…
Situated on Place Emile Goudeau, on the edge of Place de Tetre, Bateau-Lavoir was once home to many of Montmartre’s illustrious artists. A residence and meeting place for some of the era’s most prominent creatives, it was also the birthplace of Cubism. A former « guinguette« , the building was converted into house in 1860 and later divided into space…
Born in Egypt to Italian parents, Dalida became a worldwide star when she moved to Paris. Transforming her modelling career into singing, Dalida subsequently began a 31-year singing career in France in 1954. She would go on to sell over 170 million albums worldwide in 10 languages and became the inspiration for the Platinum album award. Today, Dalida is the…
21 must-see places to visit with the kids Best Things to Do with Kids in Paris 1- LOUVRE Nine dedicated workshops lasting two to three hours are available free of charge, upon reservation. The program and activities are renewed every quarter, and are designed to suit all visitors: young people and adults, individuals or groups. https://www.louvre.fr/expositions-et-evenements/evenements-activites?type=15 It is forbidden to…
A keen cyclist? Not a fan of public transport? Wondering just exactly how you use the Vélibs in Paris? The Paris transport system isn’t for everyone. If you’re brave enough to face Parisian traffic head on, you might just find that it’s the quickest method of moving around the city. The Velib bicycle rental system was launched in 2007 and…
Montmartre was once home to many of France’s celebrated figures; from actresses to essayists, singers to writers. Just metres away from our hostel is the cemetery where many of these famous artists were laid to rest. Here are 5 more famous writers you can find at the Montmartre cemetery. Émile Zola (1840-1902) Émile Zola was a French playwright, novelist and…
Maurice Utrillo was one of very few painters to actually be born and raised in the bohemian quarter. His mother, Suzanne Valadon, was an artist’s model, who would later herself go on to become a famed artist in her own right. The question of who was Maurice’s father has long been the stuff of legend. Suzanne thought that Renoir or Degas could have been…