The Sacre Coeur is basilica atop Butte Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris. The view of Paris from the dome is suposed to be fabulous. Can anyone tell me more about this place. Are there any restaurants or places to enjoy a night cap on the hill? This sounds like a very romantic place to have a late dinner and enjoy the skyline of the city. How do we get there?

Lisa, I like to visit Sacre Coeur whenever I'm in Paris, just to climb to the summit through the terraced gardens that take you up there (much nicer than taking the funicular they have there). <BR>The view is quite nice but not as nice as that offered by the Eiffel Tower. Really, it's the combination of view and setting that make it worthwhile. Also, the church is itself unique... a nice departure from gargoyles and pointy things. <BR>Others can give you restaurant tips. I simply prefer to walk a short distance past the rear of the basilica to get a fairly plain lunch. <BR>Getting there is no big thing. You take the Metro to the Abbesses station and there you will find simple directions that bring you up at the foot of Sacre Coeur at the gardens and the funicular.

I'm so glad that you asked...it is near and dear to my heart. I live on Montmartre and adore that view. One by one at dusk the lights come on like fireflies and voila the city of lights is alive again for the evening.... <BR>If you 'd like a nightcap and /or a good meal, the 'Mont Cenis' on the rue Mont Cenis has fabulous duck, etc...and is above a bistro but not a stuffy restaurant. A husband and wife owns it and the little place is on a tiny street watching tourists on the way to tourist spots...cobblestone streets, artists roaming, gas lit street lamps, smells of bakeries and cooking.... I love Montmartre.

Possibly one of the most romantic spots in Paris . . . don't look too closely at the activities of the couples perched around the wall! And we had one of our best dinners at some tiny place we wandered into . . .a great evening!

I'm jealous, Wendy.

Meg, trust me...I know I am so blessed to live in a small slice of heaven. Every night when I walk home I look around me and tell myself never to take it for granted. Living between the states and Paris is hard, because now I'm ready to jump on the plane!

A propos not much at all. Remember Paul Keating's answer when asked what his favourite view of Australia was? "From 30,000 feet on a 747 heading for Paris" or some such. Fair enough. <BR> <BR>Only, he was Australian Prime Minister at the time! <BR> <BR>PS Sacre Coeur itself looks pretty damn good viewed at night from the foot of the funicular. We nearly missed our flight once, though, because there were no taxis in Montmartre. So, use the Metro.

This is my list of favorite views in Paris. I think the view from the Eiffel tower is not good, it is too high, more like the view from an airplane, probably worth doing one time, but I definitely prefer the more close up intimate views listed below. <BR> <BR>1) The view from the restaurant at La Sameritaine (5th floor, La Toupery), or the roof top view from the same dept. Store. <BR> <BR>2) Th view from the top of the Arch de Triomphe. <BR> <BR>3) The view from the top of the Pantheon. <BR> <BR>4) The view from the hill top neighborhood at Belleville (where Edith Piaf was born in a door way delivered by a policeman, this is also where she began her singing career. <BR> <BR>5) The view from Notre Dame after climbing the 300+ stairs. <BR> <BR>I think all these are superior to the Eiffel Tower. I would like also to hear about other similar views that I haven't mentioned. <BR> <BR>Ciao, <BR> <BR>Randall Smith <BR>

Other views: 1. Top of the escalators at Centre Pompidou, 2. From the towers of Notre Dame, 3. From the hot air baloon at Parc Andre Citroen, 4. From the tower of Sacre Coeur. <BR>Others?

Wendy, I am soooo jealous! I can not even think straight.....Judy ;-)

To all, <BR>Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you! <BR>This kind of advice is not available in any book or on any web site. We will visit every "view spot" mentioned here. <BR>

<BR>stephanie : <BR> <BR> From the top of the montparnasse tower, from the modern Ark at La Defense, from the ferris wheel installed last year at the place de la Concorde..

<BR> <BR> There's a lot of restaurants on Montmartre hill, but they're overpriced.

All of these views are nice. However, the best views of all are on the ground, along the Seine. Try the bridges near Notre-Dame. The view of Notre-Dame from the left bank is unsurpassed. The best view of the Eiffel Tower is from the terrace of the Palais de Chaillot, but the view of it from the Arc de Triomphe is also good.

This message is for Wendy - <BR> <BR>You say you live on Montmartre. In a previous thread titled "Hotel Muguet or Hotel du Quai Voltaire" (most recent response on 01/30/2001 at 01:21 am), you state in the fifth response from the top that you live down the street from the Hotel du Quai Voltaire. These areas, of course, are on opposite ends of Paris. <BR> <BR>Which is it, Wendy? Where do you really live?

troll, troll, away! but please stop takingup space with such nonentities!

Dear XXX, <BR> <BR>15 rue Genegaud and 93 rue Lepic. <BR>OF COURSE they are on opposite ends of Paris. <BR> <BR>Two studios I happily rent while I'm not in either. <BR>Any answer questions? <BR>Thank you for your interest in my life! <BR> <BR>Silly of you XXX to be so trivial. <BR>

Wendy: Thank you so much for your posts! Would you please provide the opening hours for Mont Cenis? Are you available for a guided walk of Montmartre?

Thank you for your message Donna! I work full-time in the states and I am leaving for Umbria and Milan on Tuesday. I'm a part-time resident of Paris, about 6 months out of the year. <BR> <BR>I've never guided anyone around Montmartre, but I know there are some great travel/walking guide books that highlight the area's history. I see people using them often to explore the side streets and old artist studios. The Eyewitness guide to Paris has a two page walking tour, but there are also some published that are chapters long. <BR> <BR>Something interesting is the only vineyard left in Paris (harvest is in October)because the hill of Montmartre used to be covered in vineyards and dairy farms. There are still some of the Moulins (windmills) left that used to help power the grape crushings. The vineyard is situated on a little hill behind the Musee de Montmartre. <BR> <BR>Across the street from this and on the corner is the Au Lapin Agile is a little wine/dinner cabaret with Edith Piaf type singing during the meal. <BR> <BR>On my street, the rue Lepic at #79, is the Moulin de la Galette, site of Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings. <BR>Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas, Van Gogh and Picasso were all past residents on Montmartre as well. My apt. is across from Picasso's first atelier. I have a book called, 'The Impressionists' Paris' and it highlights Montmartre and where the artists lived, and maps out a walking tour of the artists' studios, homes and the sites they painted. <BR> <BR>Behind Sacre-Coeur is a neighborhood park/garden and has spectacular views of the Basilica through vine covered trellis' and children play games. <BR> <BR>I'm not particularly fond of the touristy Place du Tertre where artists hound you to sketch your portrait (although some say it adds to the charm), and true most of the restaurants around it are very touristy, pricey and not good quality. Which is why living there forced me to seek out the locals making a living running bistros, not tourist traps. I like Mont Cenis, because it is off of the main square on a tiny cobble stoned street, the interior is painted a pale yellow and it is charming. A very young husband and wife own it...and there is a little art gallery next door. <BR> <BR>It is only a little bistro, but the plats du jours are lovely and rarely over FF90 for dinner/lunch. I'd give anything for the duck in a blackcurrant sauce with frites right about now! <BR> <BR>I'm not sure of their hours, they always seem to be open, except during the winter when most of Montmartre closes around 8. <BR> <BR>All in all, Montmartre can be quaint, charming and a joy to explore when you get away from the crowds and discover the little side streets and alleys. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR> <BR>Wendy <BR> <BR> <BR>

I have noticed a lot of discrepancies in Ms. Wendy's replies as well. <BR> <BR>I picture her sitting at her computer in a little town in Dullsville, no more than 1,000 people all told. My guess is she probably works as the town librarian and has access to a variety of resources on travel. <BR> <BR>I suspect she hasn't left the state she resides in even once. <BR> <BR>Poor dear. But, leave her alone. I fear she has not much.