Paris is a huge city! In order to run more effectively this large city is split into twenty arrondissements municipaux which are really just smaller administrative districts each with their own mayor. Each of these arrondissements has its own culture and personality. This is especially true of the 18th arrondissement, which is on the outskirts of the city and also the home of Montmartre.
- Montmartre is the name of a 130m high hill plus the surrounding neighborhood and it has definitively been one of my favorite parts of Paris thus far. Historically speaking, in the context of war, which is a large portion of our class, the height of this area has played greatly into its importance strategically in many wars throughout French history. The view of Paris from the top is breathtaking. I would even say it rivals the view from the Eiffel Tower. It is also very well known by the presence of Sacré Cœur since it was completed in 1914, where again the height was significant in making this hill a wonderful location for such a holy place.
In the mid-nineteenth century this district started attracting a vast community of artists. Reasons for this migration from the hustle and bustle of city life to the more village-like setting offered by Montmartre would include the drastically cheaper living costs, and perhaps the presence of many vineyards. During this period many well-known artists, including but certainly not limited to Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, Claude Monet, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh worked in this area. For those of you who know anything about art this also means many different types of art were being created in this place: impressionism, post-impressionism, surrealism, cubism, and figurative art to name a few.

Courtney standing in front of Le Bateau-Lavoir where Modigliani and Picasso once lived and worked in an artist commune.
Many famous cabarets or clubs could and can be found in Montmartre. Le Chat Noir, which was one of the first and perhaps most well-known cabarets ever was there. Le Lapin Agile was a very popular spot for artists to visit since it was created in the 1850s and still sits towards the center of the great hill that is Montmartre. Plus, the red light district which includes the club Moulin Rouge is at the bottom of the hill.
4 years of Nazi occupation during WWII certainly took its toll on Paris, which was once the great art capital of the world, and Montmartre was not spared from this. Many of the artists who resided in the area left during the wars never to return.
Today Montmartre is still an extremely interesting area to visit. Although it may be a shadow of its former glory in regards to the art being produced there it is once again a very artistically centered community. Everywhere you go there are street artists of many mediums willing and ready to produce and sell art for a price.
The area itself is simply beautiful. It has been deemed a historical area at this point so little modification is allowed. Several famous movies have been filmed in the area including Moulin Rouge (1952), Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Amélie. While we were exploring the area we met a film crew working on some sort of movie. Unfortunately we were not able to ask them what they were filming.
Again Montmartre, despite the climb up the 130m high hill, was one of my favorite spots in Paris. It is a very lively location with plenty to do and see. It is absolutely beautiful there and full of history!