Eric R.
Yelp
"That is love,
to give away everything,
to sacrifice everything,
without the slightest desire to get anything in return."
Paris 1942... La Résistance! La Résistance aka the French Résistance. C'est cela l'amour, tout donner, tout sacrifier sans espoir de retour. True essence of Parisian!
Everyone talks about the quaint cafes and art culture in this wonderful French neighborhood. I get it! Yet I can't help to delve into the history of Montmartre.
Montmartre is bordered via rue Caulaincourt and rue Custine on the north, rue de Clignancourt on the east, and boulevard de Clichy and boulevard de Rochechouart to the south. It is well known for its art culture and historic landmarks such as Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur; Moulin Rouge; Musée de Montmartre; The Place Dalida; and the Wall of Love in the Jehan Rictus garden square. You can get history lessons just by walking the centuries old cobble stone alleyway's, which of course I did. If you know me, you know how much I'm a history romantic and just love wanderlusting lol.
I really enjoyed browsing the streets of Montmartre. In fact, one of my favorite hidden cafes is in this neighborhood: Le Grenier à Pain. That's if you're into fabulous croissants and café done right! You're welcome! The French cafés, the theatres, the boutiques, the Parisian lifestyle. Yet, I couldn't help reflect how this was one of the centers of the French Résistance when Nazi Germany stormed France and occupied Paris.
Some critics say the French were weak by falling so fast to a more dominant Nazi blitzkrieg. I beg to differ. I look at the Parisian people as fighters, yet realist. To me, after decades of history lessons and walking these historic streets, I have my own theory. Today, we can walk the streets of Paris and see so many historic sights. We can see so much art culture. And we can see those Parisian citizens that survived WWII by not being weak, but by being strong. As the Nazis would find out by the war within the war that the French Résistance would bring to them in neighborhoods like Montmartre!
In the end, I highly recommend a stroll in Montmartre. Discover the cafés, window shop the boutiques, smile at the Parisians. A historic neighborhood that once Renoir, Monet, and Picasso called home. Home to icon Dalida, where she also tragically died. A Parisian love story that had a tragic ending. Film Noir? Hey, I'm in Paris... and it doesn't get any better than the Montmartre. Je t'aime!