Montmartre, 2026, 1

We were last on Montmartre in 2019 and decided it was time to visit again, using the Paris in 20 Walks book Rebecca had given us. Our 2019 visit is in two blogposts, the churches, and the rest. For 2026, it was largely still other things, nicely complementing past visits.

We took the Metro to Place de Clichy and then walked
on to Montmartre, encountering this along the way, the monument
to Jobs and Wozniak...wait, no...the monument to socialist utopian
Charles Fourier, inspiration of Utopia, Ohio, and numerous other
US towns (look it up) (probably all deep red now)

Further along the way, incredibly, two side-by-side Irish bars

Across the boulevard, not to be outdone, side-by-side her and his
sex shoppes...we must be getting close to...

Yes, the world-famous Moulin Rouge...

Les Girls

The tourist train confirms the importance of the place; in our experience
Montmartre is the only place in Paris you will see the petits trains, and
you will see many here

Another important place, the Cafe des Deux Moulins,
the cafe of the two windmills; where the Amelie of the
movie Amelie worked as a waitress...we need to see the
movie

Another important place, a nearby Viennoiserie, with the most 
extensive list of tarts and quiches we have seen; beautifully done, too

We stopped for a snack

Street scene, Rue Lepic, or some other Rue

Studio 28, famous artsy cinema of yore

We have boldly eschewed the funicular and are walking
our way to the top; this scene looks northerly, away from 
the city

Paris is a city of 6 and 7 story buildings, and all of
them need rooftop and chimney access; this is one of
the more rudimentary staircases we have seen.... 

Looking toward the city

So there are indeed two remaining windmills: the Radet and
the Blue-fin; here is one, seen through the trees

And the other, now part of the Moulin de la Galette resto

Times have changed...this is how Renoir pictured the Moulin de la Galette
in the late 1870s; no wonder we romanticize the past...no windmills

Famous sculpture of St. Denis, first bishop of Paris, beheaded
by the Romans here in 250; observing "it's only a flesh wound," 
("Ce n'est qu'une blessure superficielle") picked up his head and
carried it 5 miles to what is now St. Denis and the very, very
famous Basilica/Cathedral of St. Denis); why it's called Montmartre,
mountain of the martyr; according to legend, he stopped at this
exact spot to wash off a bit and straighten his mitre

Springtime in Paris

Bust [sic] of Dalida, Italian/Egyptian singer beloved
in Paris; she lived on this square in Montmartre; someone
has scribbled in "Don't touch...respect her soul"

Very famous cafe, La Maison Rose, from 1908, frequented
by many famous French-type personnes

Street scene

Saint Ouen Flea Market, Clignancourt, 2

Continuing our afternoon at the Marche des Puces de Saint Ouen...

Sunday dinner is still pretty sacrosanct in France...these are shop owners
dining outside their shops on the Biron alley

A huge beautiful antique stained glass shop we couldn't get
enough of

Need a picture frame?

Or maybe just more stained glass

For redecorating your place in the manner of Versailles; or
the manner of Trump? note Pleyel piano in background
(Chopin's preferred brand)

Among the better alleys this visit

The old-fashioned way; the irony here is that ice was
nearly unheard of in post-WWII Europe...

Japanese version of King Kong

Aquarium

Reflective material is having a furniture moment just now

Art Deco set

Ever thought of having a misericord for a comfy chair?

Back side of the stained glass store we couldn't get enough of

Also the fireplace store

The end

Saint Ouen Flea Market, Clignancourt, 1

"The big flea market in Paris is Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, at Porte de Clignancourt, out in the 18th. It's the one with all the antiques, high end stuff. But first you have to penetrate a layer of poor people selling things off blankets and tarps...the poor selling to the poor. And then a layer of normal flea market fare...fake and used crap of every description. And then finally the stuff for the wealthy, in shops and serpettes (galleries of rooms and shops). We'll focus here on the last category. One doesn't take pix of the first, and the second is generally unremarkable." (2021 blogpost) 

Some of our recent visits to Clignancourt are:

https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2021/10/clignancourt-markets.html
https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2023/05/les-puces-de-st-ouen.html
https://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2025/06/puces-de-st-ouen-and-basilica-st-denis.html

It's a huge place, advertised as the world's largest antiques/brocantes store...hundreds (thousands?) of shops on scores of different alleys and streets. If you're really serious about buying things here, a map would be helpful for getting around, and some research and planning. On the other hand, it's a fine place to just wander, even get lost. Looking at pix from previous years, I'm struck at how little repetition there is. It's a kaleidoscope of wonders and curiosities. And other stuff.

Would look great on your lawn

12 piece setting

Remember to have won the lottery before visiting

1947 Foosball machine, made in Geneva, gorgeous; don't touch!

So it said

Disney Paris is just 20 miles away

Travel the old-fangled way, probably on the Orient Express;
this is a Louis Vuitton trunk, in a shop of just antique Louis
Vuitton gear

Ashtray store

Alley scene

Street scene

Need a mirror?

Lamp stand?

Fan? Old-time manually-operated fan?

Exquisitely-carved tusk?