Montmartre Guided Walking Tour in German Paris

The Moulin Rouge and Place Blanche

The walk begins at Blanche metro station, in front of the Moulin Rouge, the red windmill on Boulevard de Clichy that opened in 1889, the same year as the Eiffel Tower. It became the symbol of Belle Époque Paris and of the cabaret dance known around the world as the cancan, and its sails still turn above the boulevard.

From here your guide explains how Montmartre grew from a village of windmills, quarries and farms outside the city walls into the most famous artists' quarter in Europe. Montmartre was only joined to Paris in 1860, and the climb up the hill from Place Blanche shows how quickly the busy boulevard gives way to quiet, village-like streets.

The windmills of Montmartre and Moulin de la Galette

Montmartre once had more than a dozen windmills grinding grain for Paris. Today two survive on Rue Lepic, the Blute-Fin and the Radet, known together as the Moulin de la Galette. In the 19th century the site was an open-air dance hall where Parisians came on Sundays to dance and eat little flat cakes called galettes, a scene painted by the Impressionists.

Your guide tells the dramatic stories of the millers' family and how the windmills survived while the rest disappeared. This part of the walk follows winding, sloping streets where many visitors never go, so wear comfortable shoes: the Montmartre walking tour is mostly uphill, with cobbles and stairs.

Hidden lanes and the pink house on Rue de l'Abreuvoir

Away from the main paths, the route threads through quiet passages and small squares that still feel like a village, with ivy-covered walls, old street lamps and steep stairways. One of the most photographed corners is the little pink house at the meeting of Rue de l'Abreuvoir and Rue des Saules, painted by local artists in the early 20th century and loved today for its soft colour and green shutters.

Rue de l'Abreuvoir takes its name from the old watering place where horses drank, and the view down the lane towards the dome of the Sacré-Cœur is one of the finest in the area. The small group size gives time for questions, photos and the insider recommendations your guide shares about cafés, bakeries and quiet spots to come back to.

Place du Tertre, the painters' square

At the top of the hill, Place du Tertre was the main square of the old village of Montmartre, and it has been a gathering place for artists since the late 19th century. Today painters and portrait artists still set up their easels under the trees, and you can watch them at work on views of Paris.

Your guide explains how artists who later became world-famous lived nearby in modest studios, drawn by low rents, light and the free spirit of the hill. Is Montmartre worth visiting? This square, with its painters, little houses and lively atmosphere, is the best answer. Note that portrait artists may offer to draw you; agree on any price before they start.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the view over Paris

The walk ends at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the white Romano-Byzantine church that crowns the hill at about 130 metres, the highest natural point in Paris. Built between 1875 and 1914 and consecrated in 1919, it is made of travertine stone that releases calcite when it rains, keeping its facade white. Inside, a vast mosaic fills the apse, and the bell tower holds one of the heaviest bells in France.

Entry to the basilica is free, while the dome climb of about 300 steps has a separate fee that is not included. From the terrace in front of the church the whole of Paris spreads below you, and at the late-afternoon departure the light is often golden. After the tour you can stay to enjoy the view, visit the basilica or walk down the stairs and the funicular to the foot of the hill.