It was sitting in the park below Sacre Coeur Basilica late in the afternoon that I realized I could actually speak French. After six years of language study, I went to France in high school as part of a school trip. There in the park, I watched a little girl trying to play with the other children. In tears when they wouldn’t let her into their game, she ran to her father crying out in French that they would not play with her. My heart went out to her and I gasped. Without a laborious translation in my head, I had understood what she had said- I could speak French!
From that moment on, the neighborhood of Monmartre and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur would always have a soft place in my heart. I loved wandering the neighborhood, although built along a steep hill, and stopping in to see the various 19th century cabarets, artist’s homes and experience its bohemian past.
IF YOU GO: Monmartre and the neighborhood at the bottom of the hill, Pigalle are popular with tourists. The city views from the plaza outside Sacre Coeur are incredible, but be careful walking down the stairs! If you’re looking for a longer-term stay in Paris, check out apartments in Paris available to rent here.
Photo Credit: Thanks to flickr user alexbaranov for this photo, licensed through creative commons.
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