Paris by the Numbers – 18th and 19th

My Paris by the Numbers series continues this week with the 18th and 19th arrondissements. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there are 20 arrondissements in Paris and with this post, I have just one left; whew! The landmarks I have chosen in each neighborhood are the ones that appealed to us, so this isn’t an inclusive list of sites for each neighborhood.

The 18th arrondissement is known as Montmartre, mountain of the martyr and is situated on the highest hill in Paris. It is located on the right bank of the River Seine, and at 430 feet (130 meters) is one of the highest points in Paris. It was incorporated into Paris in 1860. It was here that Saint Denis, the first Bishop of Paris, was decapitated by Roman authorities in the 3rd century AD.

Legend has it that after his beheading, he picked up his head and walked several miles north, preaching to onlookers as he walked, until he finally fell and died.

Today, Montmartre is an artistic area that was once home to Monet, Van Gogh and other famous artists. There are large groups of artists and buskers here displaying their art, performing in squares and on street corners throughout the neighborhood.

The famous Basilique du Sacré Cœur stands proudly on the top of the hill and is the only cathedral I have ever been to with a bouncer; no kidding. As I entered the building holding my camera, a large, well dressed man with a deep, booming voice said to me in his thick, French accent, “No photo!” Oui, monsieur, je suis désolé, I replied sheepishly.

The basilica was built with self-cleaning stone, called Château-Landon Limestone. No, this isn’t a joke. There is a protective layer on the stone called cullet, that secretes a white substance when it comes into contact with water, thus naturally cleaning the structure when it rains.

In Place Marcel Aymé, you’ll find the famous, quirky statue – Le Passe-Muraille, a man whose super-power allows him to pass through walls. This quirky statue is a quintessential part of Montmartre and its bohemian lifestyle, which we found to be quite appealing.

The 19th arrondissement is located on the right bank of the River Seine and was also incorporated into Paris in 1860. It is traversed by two canals; Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal de Saint-Denis. Here you’ll also find Bassin de la Villette and La Rotonde de Stalingrad.

Bassin de la Villette opened in 1808 and is the largest artificial lake in Paris. It is a large neighborhood park, popular for strolling, fishing and other leisure activities.

La Rotonde de Stalingrad was built during the late 17th century and was used as a tax collection point for goods entering Paris. Today it is mostly a venue for concerts and other activities.

We didn’t enjoy these two arrondissements as much as some of the others. Montmartre is extremely crowded with tourists, which diminishes the atmosphere, and the 19th isn’t very ascetically pleasing. When we visited Montmartre on a weekday in February last year, it was so crowded that it was difficult to navigate through the crowd. If you’ve had a different experience, please share your thoughts.

What do you think of these two arrondissement? Only one more neighborhood to go; whew! This has been a fun series and I’m hoping you’re enjoying it as much as I am.

As always, I would love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment if you like.

If you’re curious about our current travels, check out theTravelsketcher’s current posts.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia