1 August 2025

Stairs and stares

 
 
Under the stares.

Above: an intimate café at the bottom of a Montmartre stairway

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Stairways are a defining feature of Montmartre's hilly streets and bohemian charm. A recent post, “Sunday sipping,“ received so many views that I thought they deserve a little more attention than I've been giving them.
 
Their steep, often uneven steps - like the famous 222 leading to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica - offer breathtaking views of the city while connecting quaint cobblestone paths lined with artists’ studios, cafés, and ivy-draped buildings. Immortalized in art and film, they evoke a romantic, enduring Paris, where each climb feels like a journey into history (or a full workout!), from the days of Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec to the vibrant street performers of today. - BPJ