It’s in 1860 that Montmartre was annexed to the town of Paris. Formerly, the district of Montmartre was only a vast field. Following the great works of Baron Haussmann, the Parisians who were penniless were driven from the center of Paris and then came to find refuge in what would become the Maquis de Montmartre.
Montmartre, a village in Paris
The inhabitants were mainly scrap metal workers, ragpickers, people living off salvage, in short. They lived in wood cabins in very poor conditions. Despite appearances, Montmartre therefore had more the soul of a village than a slum. Despite the poverty, insecurity and lack of hygiene, all this little world made up a socially organized, united and united community. At that time already, the Butte attracted and inspired artists. From Van Gogh to Renoir via Maurice Utrillo, Pablo Picasso… So many famous names which have made the Maquis de Montmartre famous.
Montmartre’s facelift
However, at the start of the 20th century, the face of the district changed completely: promoters bought and stole land from the maquisards to build luxury villas and buildings, in the Art Deco style. Fortunately, the Butte has managed to retain its village atmosphere, its winding alleys and a few fanciful characters until our time !
Some glimpses of Montmartre, photos by French Glimpses
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