Monmartre, Paris

Date: 7 June 2013
Location: Paris, France
Remarks: Monmartre in the morning

Basilique du Sacré Cœur. I love the place.

Monmartre is one of my favourite places in Paris. It was highly touristy, but I like it. It was fun and very energetic. I was following the walking route of lonely planet which took around 2-3 hours. It started from metro station Blanche, walked pass the very famous Moulin Rouge, went up the hill, walked passed the signature blue door of Van Gogh's House (which was indeed nothing special, since you could not get in), to Place du Tertre and Basilique du Sacré Cœur.

I like the neighbourhood on the way up to Basilique du Sacré Cœur. It was quite with the white little houses on the way, which contrast to the busy Place du Tertre, which is just a few street away from Sacré Cœur. Many street artists setting up their easels in Place du Tertre, making portraits for tourists. The square is crowded with the artists and tourists, with cafe and restaurants surrounding it and shops selling typical souvenirs in the streets nearby. The place ishighly touristy busy and hazzled, but fun. It was very interesting to watch the artists, some are talented while some are not, painting portraits for tourists.

Basilique du Sacré Cœur is another landmark with around 5 minutes walk fro Place du Tertre.Sacré Cœur is a Roman Catholic church, and you could have a very beautiful panoramic view of Paris in the square in front of Sacré Cœur. Sacré Cœur, all in white, is a very beautiful piece of architecture and you can enter the sanctuary of the church which is free to guests. One could also paid to step up the 234 spiralling steps to the basilique’s dome for an even more spectacular panoramas of Paris.

A walk in Monmartre is a must-do in Paris and would definitely worth your time.