Travel Tips

As I ghad the morning free I decided to take one of the walks described in one of the Lonely Planet guide books around Montmartre and the Sacre Couer. I had walked around the area on one of my previous visits but the walk looked good on paper and had spots which I had missed previously.

The walk takes you away from the tradition route from the Sacre Couer and gives you a more leisurely climb whilst also taking you through the small streets where you can get some flavour of what it might have been like for the budding artists in years gone past. I’m sure that the current crop of artists that live there now draw on the very same inspiration.

I started of at Moulin Rouge and took the first left "Rue Lepic"

According to the walk, I was supposed to take a look at No 54 which is van Gogh’s home..not sure I managed to see it or it might have been not too impressive. I did manage to climb rue Tholoze though and took a look at the two impressive windmills. Then it was turn left into rue Girardon, cross Square St-Buisson and veer right through the charming Allee des Brouillards (Fog Alley).

I then descended the stairs from the Place de Dalida into rue St-Voncent, passing the Cimetiere St-Vincent. Right at the Lapin Agile and past the vineyard…yes there is a vineyard! Turn left into rue Cortot, passing, Montmartre’s oldest house, now the Musee de Montmartre and Eric Satie’s house at No 6. I didn’t stop too long…if it had been Eric Cantona’s house then I would have stopped!

Turn right at the water tower and then left to reach Sacre Coeur. This gives you great views of the city of Paris. Walk past the funicular station and ancient St-Pierre de Maontmartre to the touristy Place de Tetre

Follow rue Poulbot past the Dali museum. Descend the steps from Place du Calvire into rue Gabrielle, turning right to reach Place Emile Goudeau and, at No 13 the rebuilt Lavior studio where Picasso & Co set up their easels. Take the steps and turn left at rue des Abbesses to reach the Guimard-designed metro station at Place des Abbesses.