neighborhood
Place du Tertre
A small village square at the top of the Montmartre hill, filled with the easels of portrait and landscape painters.
History & context
The old village square of Montmartre, recorded as early as the 14th century, it stayed the heart of local life when the hill was absorbed into Paris in 1860.
In the late 19th century the district drew painters and poets; the square still lives off that tradition, with its open-air portraitists and caricaturists.
Key facts
- District
- 18th — Montmartre
Why visit
- ·The best-preserved village atmosphere in Paris
- ·Artists working outdoors all year round
- ·A step away from Sacré-Cœur and the lanes of the hill
What to see
- ·The painters at work
- ·Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church
- ·The lanes around rue Norvins
- ·Sacré-Cœur a step away
Practical tips
- ·Agree on the price before sitting for a portrait
- ·The terraces on the square are very touristy
- ·Come early in the morning to see the square almost empty
Best photo spots
- ·The northern corner of the square, with the easels in the foreground
- ·Rue du Mont-Cenis, dropping away towards the north of the hill
Good to know
- ·Agree on the price before having a portrait done
- ·The square is packed at midday: come early in the morning instead
- ·The surrounding streets (rue Norvins, rue de l'Abreuvoir) are far quieter
Schedules and tickets may change. Check the official website before booking.
Anu's insider tip
Arrive before 10am: the artists are setting up and you get the square almost to yourself.
What to avoid
Skip the terraces on the square at peak times: the nearby lanes offer far better for the same walk.
Nearby
Montmartre
A village perched on its hill, Montmartre was home to Picasso, Modigliani, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Sacré-Cœur
White basilica atop Montmartre, completed in 1914, offering one of the finest views of Paris.
Moulin Rouge
A cabaret opened in 1889 at the foot of Montmartre, birthplace of the French cancan and immortalised by Toulouse-Lautrec.