Sacre Coeur & Montmartre
If you have never seen the film ‘Amelie’ then I’d suggest that you hire it before arriving in Paris. The film is set in this area of Paris and will definitely add to your enjoyment. If you wish to visit the “Amelia” café then you’ll find it on Rue Lepic. At the top of this road on the other side of the zebra crossing is a café called the Zebra. This is a good place to stop for lunch. The grocery store seen in the film can be found at the top of Rue des Trois Freres.
Sacre Coeur is a stunning basilica (church) overlooking Paris. It is built out of a ‘self-cleaning’ stone, which ensures that is remains as white as the day it was built. If you wish to go up to the Dome for a view of Paris then head towards the Crypt, which is to the left of the main entrance down a flight of stairs. They have recently installed an automatic ticket machine that is unlikely to take your credit card, so make sure that you have enough change with you. It’s about €7 per person.
Off to the left of Sacre Coeur is a small square full of artists. Much of the art is tourist tat but from time to time you can find some interesting things.
Don’t hesitate to wander off the beaten track in this area. Try heading around the right hand side of Sacre Coeur and then drop down the hill at the back. There is a vineyard hidden away down here and some lovely side streets.
Link to the official Sacre Coeur web site.
Link to the official Montmartre web site.
