Montmartre Sacré-Coeur - South Pigalle

Introducing Montmartre Sacré-Coeur - South Pigalle

Affectionately known as La Butte, Montmartre’s village-like atmosphere inspires loyalty in its residents. Those who live here rarely leave, a fact that’s not just down to the tiring ascent that awaits their return. The steep stairs that wind around the bougainvillea-covered houses culminate in the Sacré Coeur’s breathtaking views of Paris. Art deco houses lining wide cobblestoned streets alternate with charming flats, and men gather around the cercle de pétanque to play for hours in tree-lined squares. Nearby, the garden of windmill-turned-restaurant Le Moulin de la Galette is always full, and residents swear by local patisserie Les Petits Mitrons, a few minutes’ walk away.

On weekends the classic brunch fare at hip café Marcel is a favourite, set among the houses of Villa Léandre, Montmartre’s most elegant (and expensive) street.

In contrast, at the foot of Montmartre’s southern slope lies Pigalle’s red-light district but its seediness is easily avoided. Streets leading off from Place des Abbesses are filled with trendy shops and quaint cafés straight out of Amélie. French electronic label Ed Banger is based here, and at lunchtime tattooed DJs and music-industry types occupy the few tables inside North African local Le Petit Bleu.

Montmartre’s charms hold as true for Parisians as they do in the global imagination, and the French are quick to admit that no other corner of the city encapsulates the Parisian mystique quite like this one.