Have a Great Time in Paris

Spend Time in Paris - The 18th district is best known for the hill of Montmartre Paris, dominated by the Sacré Coeur basilica.

Built of travertine stone quarried in Château-Landon (Seine-et-Marne), France, the stone of Sacré Coeur basilica constantly exudes calcite, which ensures that the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution.

Your Time in Paris - Things to Know When Visiting Sacre Coeur

At the basilica there is mosaic in the apse, entitled Christ in Majesty, which is among the largest in the world.

There is also a garden with a fountain for meditation.

One of the most revered things to do on your Paris tours of the Sacré Coeur basilica is to visit the top of the dome which is open to visitors and has a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Paris, mostly to the south of Montmartre Paris basilica.

Sacré Coeur is home to a large and very fine pipe organ composed of 109 ranks and 78 speaking stops spread across four 61-note manuals and the 32-note pedalboard unusual before the turn of the century.

The organ was ahead of its time, containing multiple expressive divisions and giving the performer considerable advantages over other even larger instruments of the day.

When Spending Time in Paris at Sacre Coeur - Honour the Dress Code

If you are planning to visit inside the Sacré Coeur basilica at Montmartre Paris, tourists and worshipers are asked to dress appropriately when visiting and to observe silence as much as possible, so as not to disturb persons who have come from around the world to pray in this special place.

The basilica has been featured in a number of movies and videos.

For example, it can be seen in the window in background of the Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina while she is writing home to her father before returning home to America, and the music video for "Two Hearts Beat As One", by Irish rock band U2, was shot in the Basilica and around Montmartre Paris.

During Your Time in Paris
Explore the Romantic Montmartre

Montmartre is the highest hill in Paris and has fantastic views of Paris.

This is a great neighbourhood for a stroll.

You can climb the stairs or take the funiculare, which brings you to the base of Sacré Coeur and after that you can either walk the steps up to the basilica or walk along the streets surrounding it.

Have a Great Time in Paris - Visit Place de Tertre on Montmartre

To the left of Sacré Coeur is a wonderful artists’ haven and village, called Place du Tertre, with winding cobblestone streets and lovely Paris restaurants and cafés.

The Place du Tertre is a square only a few streets away from Montmartre's Basilica of the Sacré Cœur.

With its many artists setting up their easels each day, the Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when Montmartre was the mecca of modern art.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many penniless painters including Picasso and Utrillo were living there.

The L'Espace Salvador Dalí (Salvador Dali Museum) is a museum dedicated to his superb collection, the most important assembly of Dalí sculptures in France.

The sculptures and drawings of Salvador Dalí are only a few steps from Place du Tertre.

While all these stairs may look challenging and tiring, don't let that keep you from coming up here to wander in the lovely, romantic streets.

Remember there is a funiculare to bring you up the big hill of Montmartre Paris.

The main square of Place de Tertre can get busy with many tourists, but there are many places away from the crowds to have a nice walk and explore.

If you get hungry, there are many great bistrots and Paris restaurants where you can sit and relax with a drink or a meal and enjoy people-watching.

Down below at the foot of Montmartre is a great textile district. I have made purchases here which include many metres of lovely embroidered raw silk.

The Pigale district is in the 18th arrondissement and is well known for its famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge.

The 18th arrondissement also contains several cultural communities and if you enjoy exploring unique Paris restaurants and international foods, you may want to consider a visit to this district.

The African and North African district of Goutte d'Or, is famous for its market, the marché Barbès, where one can find various products from that continent.

The area also hosts a large Serbian community around rue de Simplon with a Serbian Orthodox Church and a lot of restaurants offering Serbian cuisine.

Montmartre Paris has a variety of art, food, shopping and museums to keep you entertained for hours.

Paris Tours - Top Picks of the 18th Arrondissement

• Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris
• Montmartre & Museum of Montmartre
• Place de Tertre
• Salvador Dali Museum
• Montmartre Textile District

18th Arrondissement - Return to Great Vacations Travel Guide
Time in Paris- Return to Paris Vacations
Return Back to France Vacations