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Montmartre Artists: free self-guided audio tour of Paris
Montmartre Artists is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Paris, France: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 935 m in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Sacré-Cœur Basilica |
| Finish | Moulin Rouge |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Sacré-Cœur and artist quarter
The stops, in order
- Sacré-Cœur BasilicaAt the summit of Montmartre hill stands the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, a white stone guardian watching over Paris. Started in 1875 after the Franco-Prussian War, it is built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style, which sets it radically apart from the city's other Gothic churches. Its stone, from Château-Landon, has the surprising property of whitening upon contact with rainwater.
- Place du TertreWelcome to Place du Tertre, the beating bohemian heart of old Montmartre. Located just steps from the Sacré-Cœur, this small square is world-famous for its terraces and especially its many painters, caricaturists, and portraitists. it recalls the time when Montmartre was the haunt of the greatest artists of the early 20th century, from Picasso to Modigliani.
- Wall of LoveHidden in the small Square Jehan Rictus, you will discover the Wall of Love, an unusual and romantic work dedicated to love. On a surface of 40 square meters composed of 612 enameled lava tiles, the expression 'I love you' is written 311 times in as many as 250 languages and dialects, from French to Inuit to Mandarin. The red splashes on the wall symbolize the pieces of a broken heart that humanity is trying to bring back together.
- Place des AbbessesPlace des Abbesses is one of the neighborhood's most charming and lively spots. It houses one of the last authentic Art Nouveau metro entrances, designed by architect Hector Guimard with its iconic glass roof. Surrounded by typical cafes, designer boutiques, and the Church of Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre—the first built in reinforced concrete—the square is the local meeting point.
- Moulin RougeAt the foot of the hill, the Moulin Rouge has been energizing the Pigalle district since its inauguration in 1889. Famous for its iconic red mill on the roof, this cabaret is the birthplace of the French Cancan and has hosted the greatest stars, from Mistinguett to Édith Piaf to Frank Sinatra. Immortalized by the posters of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was a regular customer, the venue embodies the festive and free spirit of the Belle Époque.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Paris, then Montmartre Artists.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Paris
Planning a whole day? See one day in Paris.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Montmartre Artists tour in Paris free?
- Yes. It is one of 4 free self-guided audio tours of Paris in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Montmartre Artists tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Montmartre Artists tour start and finish?
- It starts at Sacré-Cœur Basilica and finishes at Moulin Rouge.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.