Tuesday 1 July 2008

Qype: Musée de Montmartre in Paris

Something a bit different today: one of my reviews from the qype website.

Paris - Arts & Entertainment - Museums

A little way from Sacre Coeur, in a quiet, village-like street is the local museum. And what a local museum - when your neighbourhood was home to some of France's leading artists, musicians, singers and cabarets, not to mention Sacre Coeur itself, it would be difficult for the museum not to be interesting.

Even given that advantage, though, this museum has been wonderfully done. Its building is not only full of character, but is the former home of artists including Renoir, Raoul Dufy and Maurice Utrillo. It now explores the history of Montmartre from its earliest days to the present. See the hill's past as a site of quarries, vineyards and windmills; discover its political upheavals and the suffering of the 1870 siege; explore the controversies surrounding the building of Sacre Coeur; find out about Montmartre's flowering as a centre of art and cabaret. And don't forget to look out of the windows for views of Montmartre's last surviving vineyard!

The shop is full of interesting things, mostly chosen for their relevance to the museum and its surrounding area rather than general tourist appeal. Fun items include the tiny bottles of Montmartre wine. There is no museum cafe, but hundreds to choose from just outside! Alternatively, sit a moment in the museum's courtyard garden and enjoy the peace.

Check out my review of musée de montmartre - I am CarolineLD - on Qype

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