Tour

The world-renowned hill of Montmartre hides many secrets in its winding streets and may still be one of the most authentic neighborhood in Paris, especially if you stray from its touristy centers. A village out of time, bucolic and preserved, it is a place where food traditions and popular French gastronomy are preserved.

Enjoy a delicious, traditional French meal in an authentic bistro. Don't eat too much though, if you want to explore the best bakery in the North of Paris and sample mouthwatering pastries and chocolates while following the footsteps of Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso, and hearing all about this very special Hill. 

Price per private group of 1 to 4:

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The heyday of Montmartre brought a mix of working-class people, law-breakers, and bourgeois lured by the thrill of Cabarets, café-concerts and brothels. For artists, the vibrant culture of Montmartre, its racy and uncensored atmosphere, provocative celebrities, and rich colors, was an endless source of inspiration.

While enjoying lunch at one of the quaint bistros of the area, you will receive an overview of the evolution of French cuisine and the spirit of a gastronomic meal as defined by the “King of Chefs and the Chef of Kings” and practice your new knowledge over a delicious traditional meal. Save room for dessert as you will sample the many enticing sweets of Paris in top chocolate and pastry shops situated along the narrow streets.

A break in the rustic vineyards will showcase the unique mix of rural and urban in the neighborhood. You will learn about Parisian wine traditions and the central role of wine in French culture. Your guide will conjure the smoky rooms, bawdy music of the mythic cabarets and the Bohemian lifestyle during the golden age of Montmartre. 

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As we walk to top of the hill, we will stop to admire the Basilica Sacre Coeur. The view from the staircase, proudly towering above the whole city, makes it easy to understand why, at one time, Montmartois thought about erecting the Statue of Liberty there, for all Paris to see.

Finally, climbing down the hill, you will leave the rustic atmosphere of Montmartre to plunge back into the urban bustle and continue dreaming of the fun times gone-by over a relaxing tea, a glass of wine or a local beer.

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The nimble rabbit and the black cat

Picasso lived in the Montmartre area between 1901 and 1906. There were several reasons that had first attracted him to the area: cheap rent, a rural atmosphere in the day and an exuberant nightlife, but above all the proximity to the writers and artists who soon became his friends, like Braque, Utrillo, and Modigliani.

They paid frequent visits to the circus on the North side of the hill. There, Picasso found his inspiration for his circus characters, like the legendary Harlequin. Le Lapin Agile, a very “underground” cabaret at the time was something of a shelter and haven for them. In this refuge, they were always sure to find something to eat and most definitely to drink. Frédé, the rough looking but jovial owner, was more of a friend than a “The landlord.” He sometimes accepted pictures as a form of payment. His café became the center gathering place for the artists, and allowed him to acquire a splendid collection of paintings, including of course, one by Picasso “At the Lapin Agile”—that featured Frédé as a guitar player and Picasso as a harlequin. While the originals can now be viewed at the MOMA in New York, you can still experience reproductions in their original setting at the Cabaret Lapin Agile. 

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-Traditional French Meal 20€pp

-Trendy chocolate shops, bakery and pastries.

-Montmartre’s vineyards.

-Sacré Coeur

-Picasso's and Van Gogh's studio.

-Le Moulin Rouge.

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