La Belle Époque Still Inspiring Artists Today
My previous two posts showed you how to get to Sacré-Cœur and what lies behind the famous basilica – the fun shops and cafés of Montmartre.
Most buildings in Montmartre were rebuilt after the fire of 1559 that ravaged the village. At that time, the windmills were turning, large fields of wheat grew on the plain and the slopes and there were vineyards too (there’s still one). Here are some fun things you’ll see as you wander and enjoy yourself.
History of La Belle Époque
The “beautiful era” in Paris lasted from around 1871 to 1914 or from the beginning of the Third French Republic until the First World War. People witnessed the construction of many monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Métro, the completion of the Paris Opera, and the beginning of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur.
Le Consulat Café is a this tall, thin restaurant spills into the cobblestone streets of Montmartre on Rue Norvins, Le Consulat attracts locals and tourists with its fresh baked goods, espresso, beer and wine. It’s a quintessential French café, complete with small round tables and white stone. You can even see Sacré-Cœur’s dome in the background.
Next to Le Consultat is another historic landmark, La Bonne Franquette. The building dates back to the 16th century and has changed hands over the years, but in 1925 became La Bonne Franquette. The French phrase “À la bonne franquette” means without ceremony, unpretentious, simple. Derived from the word “franc”, the expression “à la franquette” originally meant “frankly”, “sincerely”.
Related Links:
☆ In Paris Visiting Sacre-Coeur, Avoiding the Steps & the Funiculaire de Montmartre
☆ Montmartre La Belle Époque Still Inspiring Artists Today