We had this arrondissement on the list, but it was not scheduled! We switched up our calendar and went here by the nudge of my dear friend Whitney through a perfectly timed text!

Montmartre is full of fascinating history and quirky details! Here are some fun facts about this iconic Parisian neighborhood:

• It wasn’t always part of Paris – Montmartre was officially incorporated into the city in 1860.
• It has one of the last working vineyards in Paris – The Clos Montmartre vineyard was created in the 1930s to prevent extra housing developments.
• The Sacré-Coeur stays white on its own – The basilica is built from a special limestone that naturally bleaches itself when exposed to rain.
• Artists like Picasso and Van Gogh lived here – Montmartre was once the heart of Paris’s artistic scene, attracting legendary painters.
• Its name has a dramatic origin – Some believe Montmartre was named after Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, who was decapitated on the hill in 250 AD. Legend says he picked up his own head and kept walking!
• On a personal note, the BEST place to buy your take-home souvenirs!

We decided to spend the entire day there! On the way, we see the Panthéon!

We took an Uber, and on this very crowded market day, our car made it through the windy, highly populated streets, and a tour bus took on the challenge! What?!

One of Parish’s friends at work noted the basilica’s magnificent architecture, so we decided to go there first. Take a look! Notice the fun fact from above: It is built from a unique limestone that naturally bleaches when exposed to rain.

The basilica sits on a hill, and people enjoy sitting on the grass and stairs, eating, talking, and listening to entertainment!

What are they looking at?

From the top of the hill, you can climb down into the city, and along the way, you can experience a tram ride if you prefer, vendors, artists, and, at the bottom, a carousel! Do you see the Eiffel Tower in the distance? Want to ride a little train around? Look at this cute train in the middle of traffic!

We wandered into the market square to hear music and watch artist painting and selling their masterpieces.

We purchased a beautiful painting from Adam, pictured to the far left above. He had a painting of our favorite bridge with the Eiffel Tower in the background, including the Seine. This was a favorite spot for us. Adam was so warm and inviting. I hope to write him a letter of gratitude with a picture of where we ended up putting our painting!

Here is Adam’s Information

From there, we ventured to lunch at La Bonne Franquette. We sat on an elevated patio on the side of the restaurant. They were serving a light fare instead of a full menu, which we were entirely okay with!

The server was engaging and offered us an after-dinner mint liquor shot to soothe the palate. He also went out of his way to find us in the store next door! The store next door was filled with pottery and fun, artful items that they packaged in bubble wrap for the plane ride home.

After our meal and the pottery store, we walked down the hill to discover where Van Gogh and Picasso hung out and the oldest winery in Paris. Walking back up the hill was great exercise after all that rich cheese for lunch.

We studied the Basilica in the setting sun and began our descent down the hill towards home, where the beautiful carousel awaited our discovery!

I enjoyed a walk-up crepe shop!

Coming home to our place in the Latin Quarter was a great way to end the day. On the way home, we walked by the Moulin Rouge just to say we visited! Parish went out to get a few things, and I began to pack. We have one day left and are headed to Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens.