Montmartre - formerly a suburb of Paris, lying about 4, 5 kilometers north of Cité. In the city the former village came only in 1859. Today it is one of the most attractive places for tourists - there is a magnificent Sacre Coeur, it offers an incredible view of Paris.

On a hill 130 meters tall people settled in the Neolithic period. During the time of the Gauls and the Romans were pagan temples here in honor of Mars and Mercury. On a hill mined gypsum, and local quarries became a refuge for the early Christians. For the preaching of Christianity here he was beheaded first bishop of Paris St. Dionysius (272 g). Legend has it that executed picked up his own head, washed it and was about 6 kilometers before falling - the place of his death was called Saint-Denis (now a suburb of Paris).

At Montmartre rich spiritual history. In the XII century the Order of St. Benedict built a monastery here, right now the Church of the Monastery of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre - one of the oldest in Paris. It is in Montmartre Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit Order in 1535.

At the same time the hill has a solid business history. Gypsum, an indispensable building material for centuries ensured the well-being of local residents. Grind his windmills. Alphonse Daudet wrote: "A particle of Montmartre there anywhere in Paris."

But the true glory of Montmartre brought culture. Since the end of the XIX century, he attracted the poor artists of low prices for housing. Here lived and worked Renoir, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Utrillo, Picasso, Braque, Modigliani. Nebogatov master shot little room in barracks without electricity and gas, with one faucet on five floors. Although the role of the main bohemian quarter today moved to Montparnasse, Montmartre, Place du Tertre to continue to exhibit their works Parisian artists.

In Montmartre - many faces. On rue Saint-Vincennes has a vineyard, every year, giving about a thousand bottles of rare wines Montmartre. Nearby - the famous Moulin Rouge. And between Place Pigalle and White is not less than the famous red light district of Paris.