No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the historic Montmartre area. Wander through the narrow winding alleyways and cobblestone streets, visit the petite squares, see the quirky street art, ponder life in little parks and see the most glorious views of Paris. Many people see Montmartre as a walk up the steps to the Basilica, pop around the corner to the Place du Tertre (the famed Montmartrois square now occupied by tourist-oriented artists) and maybe stop at one of the many cafes. But this area has so much more to offer if you are prepared to walk (and think what that is doing for your legs!!)

The word Montmartre is translated to mean "mountain of the martyr" and was derived from the martyrdom of Saint Denis - the bishop of Paris - who was decapitated atop the hill in 250 AD. Perched high above Paris, with a quaint village feel, Montmartre has been both home and muse to countless influential creative people over the years. During the mid to late 1800s, artists also began calling Montmartre home. Pissarro and Jongkind were two of the first to live there, followed by such greats as Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Pablo Picasso, just to name a few. One of the fun facts about Montmartre is that, for a brief period in 1871, the area was not actually a part of Paris. During the Franco-Prussian War, residents of the village refused to accept the authority of the City of Paris, and so for three months, Montmartre wasn't even a part of the French capital!

Perhaps the most famous sight is the Basilica Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). Sitting atop the highest point in Paris, the white basilica is visible from far and wide in the city. The Sacred Heart is both a political and cultural monument, national penance for the supposed excesses of the Commune de Paris of 1871, and also representation of the conservative moral order. Designed by Paul Abadie, construction began in 1875, and the church was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919. The architectural style has been inspired by the Romanesque and Byzantine architecture and looks like a massive meringue!! Its central dome, 83 metres high, is topped by a skylight formed by a colonnade. The ceiling of the apse is decorated with the largest mosaic in France, covering an area of ​​473 sqm. It represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus glorified by the Catholic Church and France. You can read the Latin phrase: "In the most holy Heart of Jesus, fervent France, penitent and grateful." The largest bell in France, called la Savoyarde, is inside the Basilica and measures 3 metres in diameter and weighs a whopping 18,835 kg.

For Amelie fans follow her footsteps with a walk along the rue Lepic including the famous Cafe de Deux Moulins at number 15; for Picasso fans wander along rue Gabrielle which is where he first lived; for some contemporary art check out Le Passe - Muraille (the passer through the wall) in the rue Norvins. Check out the delightful architecture that abound in this village-like part of Paris such as La Maison Rose at 2 rue de l'Abreuvoir.

Check out the shiny bust of Dalida in a little square by the same name. The legend is if you rub the breasts on this bronze statue, you'll be lucky in love. As you can tell by the clear um "use" on this bust, many visitors have tried this trick!!! However what moved me was the sad story of her life. Dalida was a French musical icon who glittered on stage but had a private life of pain and trauma. Three of her lovers took their own lives in violent suicides, in 1967 her own attempted suicide resulted in a 5-day coma, in 1968 she has an abortion that went wrong and left her infertile. In the end she committed suicide via and overdose of sleeping pills in 1987 at the age of 54. Such a short but tragic life.

One of the most interesting free things we did was a visit to the church of Saint-Pierre. It is the only remainder of the old royal Benedictine convent of Montmartre, built in the 12th century by order of King Louis VI and his wife, Adelaide of Savoie. The Church was partitioned in 1134 and was hence able to receive both Benedictines and parishioners at the same time. Wander inside and prepare to be dazzled by the stained glass windows, stunning carvings, and an aura of serenity.

Adjoining the Church of Saint Pierre we were fortunate enough to find the small 17th century cemetery of the Martyr OPEN. Cimetière du Calvaire (address: 2 Rue du Mont-Cenis, 75018 Paris) is the oldest and smallest existing cemetery in Paris. It was created in 1688 after nuns gave the parish of St Pierre a parcel of land from their orchard. The cemetery is home to about 80 tombs and is only accessible to the public on All Saints Day and selected Heritage days.

Montmartre really is a picturesque village in the city if you are prepared to get some exercise and move away from the man streets.