Paris: Barrio de Montmartre

Montmartre is a promontory located in the 18th district of Paris, famous for the Basilica of Sacré-C?ur, located at the top. The neighborhood was the birthplace of the Impressionist painters of Parisian bohemia s. XIX and important theater of battle during the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune.

Today, is a Parisian shopping district which houses various cafes, restaurants and cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge and the Lapin Agile. The neighborhood extends from Place Pigalle to Sacré Coeur Church. It also houses the famous Montmartre Cemetery.

Of Roman origin, was first mentioned in the martyrdom of Saint Denis, who was the first Bishop of Lutetia (Paris) in the area where now stands the basilica of the same name. Call first Martyrium Mons (Mount of Martyrs), in the Middle Ages was an area of ??convents and in 1589, Henry IV stayed here during the siege of the French capital, in the Wars of Religion.

During the French Revolution, the convents of the city were destroyed in 1871 and was the scene of the struggle of the Commune. Even before being incorporated into the municipality of Paris, Montmartre had numerous vineyards, wheat fields and pastures for sheep rearing.

From the late 19th and through the 20th century, Montmartre witnessed the activities of some great painters and styles including Impressionism, Cubism, Fauvism, and the development of surrealism and modern painting.

Many artists have contributed to the tradition including Montmartre and Jonking, Pissarro, Cézanne, Manet, Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Renoir, Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Derain, Villon, Duchamp, Dufy, Susanne Valadon and Utrillo Paul gene, among others.

It is formally known as the 'Le Carré aux Artistes' or Artists Square and is home to 298 painters, caricaturists, portrait artists and they all share the place and work part-time in the square.

More information: www.wikipedia.org