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Montmartre, its History
by Martin Loughlin
Montmartre is without a doubt, one of the
most picturesque and historic areas of Paris, but the one thing that
can't be agreed on is the origin of its name. Some historians think the
name was derived from martyrs killed in the area around AD 250 (latin:
mons martyrium). A burial ground of Christian martyrs' bones has been
found, which supports this theory. Supposedly, around this time, St
Denis brought Christianity to Paris, and was promptly beheaded. You can
see a statue of the headless St. Denis watching the petanque players in the square Suzanne-Buisson.
Regardless of the origin of its name, this
celebrated ‘village' in the middle of the city has a rich and
fascinating history. Walking the area today, you can still experience
many reminders of its artistic, literary and architectural heritage.
For the most part there are no signs or plaques on the walls indicating
a site of historical interest, so be sure to bring a good map and
guidebook. A good place to get an introduction to the area and learn
something of its history is the Museum of Montmartre (12, rue Cortot),
more fully described in the article on artistic life on the hill.
Whereas the history of Montmartre goes back almost 2 centuries, it was the 19th
century which was responsible for making the area what it is today.
Until 1860, Montmartre was an independent municipality, and was
incorporated into the city to become what is now the 18th
arrondissement. The politician Georges Clemenceau [head of the French
government during part of WWI and thereafter] was one of the first
mayors of Montmartre.
During much of this time Paris was the
artistic center of the world, and artists, sculptors and writers moved
into the area because of its proximity to the center of Paris, and its
cheap rents. The artist's community gave rise to cafes, studios and
dance halls, which helped give Montmartre its somewhat bohemian
reputation. Poorer people also moved to Montmartre in the 19th century because of Baron Haussman's reconstructing of most of Paris.
Montmartre, because of its topography,
escaped the urban renewal that today gives the rest of Paris its famous
boulevards. The hill has had its share of turbulent times, too. The
famous uprising of 1870, known as the Paris Commune started with the shooting of two army officers in rue du Chevalier de la Barre.
Today, Montmartre remains just a little bit
isolated and different from the rest of Paris. The area has been
swallowed up by greater Paris and is no longer the rural village it
once was. But thanks to the efforts of various local protective and
historical societies, it manages to keep a lot of its unique character.
Martin Loughlin is a talented contributor
Copyright (c) 2007 - www.paris-hotel-by-district.com CH. All rights reserved.
 Read Martin Loughlin's feature on the artists of Montmartre
Read Martin Loughlin's feature on the hills and staircases of Montmartre
Read Martin Loughlin's feature on the windmills and vineyard of Montmartre
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