Clément, a singer, was "Mayor of Montmartre" during the heady 70 days of the 1871 Commune, when this area actually seceded from Paris. Painter Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) had a studio here at No. 7, and Picasso lived around the corner at 49 rue Gabrielle. Look for the octagonal tower at the north end of the square; it's all that's left of Montmartre's first water tower, built around 1840 to boost the area's feeble water supply. On weekends, the tower plays host to tastings of the local wine. Recognized more for its kitsch factor than for its quality, Clos du Montmartre (red or white) will run you EUR 60 a bottle; most of the profits go to charity. A tasting will set you back only EUR 5 (glass included).
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