Paris1972-Versailles2003

I am taken you back to Paris, yes a never ending story, The eternal city never stop amazing me of its beauty and things to see even if worked in it for almost 10 years while visiting zillion times living nearby in Versailles, Once again, found me older pictures in one cd rom that should be in my blog, These are wondertful architecture gems glad to have them here for you and me. Therefore, here is my take on the Place du Tertre in Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

As any visitor/tourist would attest, coming here is like a pilgrimage while inParis. I admit came here for the glamour in the travel books as my French family was not taken none of this.  However, just for the bragging rights I came, first time back in 1991 !  It immediately struck as an overpopulated square loaded with visitor/tourists  walking around and so popular !  It was a one time impression and I believe been back maybe once after that. Montmartre has better places to be, but if you are here for only a visit or is your first time then do come if simply for the bragging rights! I was here! This site is served by the metro stations Abbesses (line 12) and Anvers (line 2), as well as by the Montmartrobus. I have come and parked at the parking Anvers 500 meters from Sacre-Coeur at 41 boulevard de Rochechouart.

This artists square is divided into 149 locations of 1m² where everyone gives free rein to their talent The Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when Montmartre was the place of modern art: At the end of the 19C and at the beginning of the 20C, many painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec , Picasso, Modigliani and Utrillo lived there. While Degas and Renoir frequented much.

I have come and parked at the parking Anvers500 meters from Sacre-Coeur at 41 boulevard de Rochechouart, The highlight is to say been to at No 17 Place du Tertre to the restaurant Chez Eugène (my first meal there! 1991). At No 6 Place du Tertre ,you will find the famous A la Mère Catherine The restaurant claims that the word “bistro” was born here when, after Napoleon’s defeat, the Cossacks who came to occupy Paris were served there drinks and to hasten the service shouted “bistro bistro” which phonetically and approximately means in Russian “quick quick”. The thing is disputed and questionable but it is part of the Montmartre legend made of gaffes and stories mixed with the truth!

Remarkable buildings on the Place du Tertre are: corner of Rue du Mont-Cenis: Hotel Boya.  No. 3:Old city /town Hall of Montmartre. No. 6: Restaurant A la Mére Catherine, founded in 1793  ,you will find the famous Mère Catherine. Before the Revolution, there was the presbytery where the parish priest lived as the church St Pierre was divided into two parts , one “St Denis” reserved for nuns, the other “St Pierre” for the villagers. With the Revolution and the confiscation of religious property, the house was sold and bought by Catherine Lamotte who turned it into a café-restaurant. One of the clients at the time was none other than Danton! After the death of Mother Catherine, there will be other owners including the second mayor of Montmartre Mr. Lemoine who installed a wooden billiard table, which was very successful, and earned him the nickname “Father of billiards”. The restaurant claims that the word “bistro” was born here when, after Napoleon’s defeat, the Cossacks who came to occupy Paris were served there drinks and to hasten the service shouted “bistro bistro” which phonetically and approximately means in Russian “quick quick”. The thing is disputed and questionable but it is part of the Montmartre legend made of gaffes and stories mixed with the truth! at the corner of rue du Mont Cenis, the hôtel Bouscarat. At No 3 ,the former City hall of Montmartre. At No 6 as above the restaurant A la Mére Catherine founded in 1793. At No 7 the house of sculptor Maurice Douard see plaque,At  No. 9: Maison de Maurice Douard. No. 15: It is this location that was located the Telegraph which was experimented in 1822. Actually we ate at Chez Eugéne 17 Place du Tertre on a memorable lunch way back on that special year as above. We had come back and for the memories here is Chez Eugéne: https://chezeugene-paris.fr/en At No 21 a plaque commemorates that for the first time on December 24 1898 , a gas/petrol car pilot by Louis Renault,its builder reached the place du Tertre, to mark the beginning of the French automobile industry.

At the heart of the Butte Montmartre, the Place du Tertre is well surrounded … Start your visit towards the Calvary staircase, for superb photos all over Paris! Barely further, the discreet and charming place du Calvary precedes the Dalí Paris Museum at 11 rue Poulbot, devoted to the painter and surrealism: we always fall back into the theme of art with this square! At the corner of rue Norvins and rue du Mont-Cenis, on Place Jean Marais, the Saint Pierre de Montmartre Church, among the oldest in Paris, is well worth its detour. The mysterious cemetery of Calvary, close to the church, is as small, with its 85 tombs, as venerable: it is the dean of Parisian cemeteries, open only on November 1! In the meantime, you can take photos from the grid .. Difficult not to close this stroll around the Place du Tertre without making the hook by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart: from the forecourt of the church is the most beautiful view of all of Paris, indeed,

A bit on the history of the Place du Tertre of Montmartre…Paris tell us that the place du Tertre is located on the Butte Montmartre, in the neighborhood or quartier of Clignancourt of the 18éme district or arrondissement. It is at 130 meters above sea level. It is named because of its situation on the heights of  Montmartre.  It corresponds to the center of the old village of Montmartre, a few meter from the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur and the Church of Saint-Pierre in Montmartre (see posts). We are in the Middle Ages. Let’s say without seeking too much precision, in the 12C. A few houses were built, especially a little lower, towards the current place Jean-Baptiste Clément which was then the center of the village, its main square (then called Place du Palais) . Later, probably in the 14C, the land (which is not yet a square) is bordered on the east side by a thick wall which forms part of the Abbey enclosure. In the center of the square which extends at its feet, the abbesses who possessed the right of justice had installed forks and gallows. The square did not have its current appearance and three houses were built in its center. They were destroyed in the middle of the 19C and it was not until 1921 that the city bought back the private part of the central square. The name Place du Tertre which obviously alludes to its location at the top of the hill only appears late, in the 19C. It almost disappeared when a decree of 1867, a year after the annexation of Montmartre to Paris, had provided for its abolition in order to widen the rue Norvins. Luckily, the project was abandoned!

With its numerous artists erecting their easels each day for tourists, the Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when  Montmartre  was the place of modern art. This artists square is divided into 149 locations of 1m² where everyone gives free rein to their talent. At the end of the 19C and at the beginning of the 20C, many painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec , Picasso, Modigliani and Utrillo lived there. This square, which is the center of the old town of Montmartre, was already formed in the 14C and bordered by the closing wall of the Montmartre Abbey. It was on this square that the sinister forks of the abbesses of Montmartre stood. At the end of the siege of  Paris, (during Franco-Prussian war) the National Guards stored part of the 171 cannons that were stocked on the mound. On March 18, 1871, General Lecomte attempted to remove them, causing a riot that will be at the origin of the commune of Paris of 1871.   On December 24, 1898, an oil car driven by Louis Renault, its builder (and later Renault automobiles), reached the Place du Tertre.

The Paris tourist office on the Place du Tertre : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/place-du-tertre-p1989

There you go folks, this is another memorable post on my eternal Paris! Yes, the most beautiful city in the world, is the least we can say, And while at it marvel of its wonderful architecture and history, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Place du Tertre !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!