Montmartre

Montmartre, the Hill of Martyrs

Montmartre is practically the only real hill in Paris, and its name has two possible origins. "Mont" is French for hill…

The Wall of I Love Yous

The Wall of I Love Yous (Le Mur des je t'aime) is often called the most romantic artwork in Paris. This blue wall, one o…

Bateau-Lavoir, the Artists' "Laundry Boat"

This is Bateau-Lavoir, the lodging house where Picasso, Modigliani, Apollinaire and other artists once lived. The name t…

Picasso's Blue Period and Rose Period

In 1881, a boy was born in Spain: Pablo Picasso. Influenced by his father, a painter and teacher, he drew from an early…

Modigliani and Jeanne Hébuterne

In 1920, a man lay dying in a Paris hospital. He was Modigliani, said to be the most handsome painter of his day and the…

Windy Montmartre and Its Last Two Windmills

As you've probably noticed on the walk up, Montmartre is practically the only hill in Paris, so it has more steep street…

Moulin de la Galette, Where Renoir Painted His Dance

This windmill and dance hall is the setting of Renoir's masterpiece, Bal du moulin de la Galette. To appreciate the pain…

Dalida, the Chanteuse Who Came from Afar

This square holds a statue of Dalida, the great French singer behind "Paroles, paroles." Dalida wasn't actually French.…

Lapin Agile, the Artists' Favorite Cabaret

The big rabbit painted on the wall gives it away: this is Lapin Agile, a favorite watering hole of Montmartre's artists.…

On the Way to Suzanne Valadon, Montmartre's Muse

We're heading to La Maison Rose, the house where Montmartre's legendary muse, Suzanne Valadon, lived. "Maison" means hou…

Suzanne Valadon: Model Between Renoir and Lautrec

Paris, the 1880s. A girl of about fifteen, Suzanne Valadon, has just arrived. Since childhood she had done every job goi…

From Model to Painter: Suzanne Valadon and the Musée de Montmartre

Toulouse-Lautrec had refused Suzanne Valadon's proposal, yet he still loved her and wondered how he could make her happi…

Erik Satie's House and Music You Barely Notice

The music you're hearing was composed by Erik Satie, who lived in this house. The wall says "Erik Satie's House." Satie…

Place du Tertre, from Execution Ground to Artists' Square

Place du Tertre means "Square of the Little Hill." You probably know it as the place with lots of portrait artists, but…

Sacré-Cœur, the White Basilica on the Hill

Sacré-Cœur is the first thing most people think of when they think of Montmartre. "Sacré" means sacred and "cœur" means…