Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris] in the 18th arrondissement. It is famous as the site of the martyrdom of Saint Dennis. Here in 1534 Loyola and seven companions took the vows that lead to the creation of the Jesuits. A large nunnery once stood on the hill. For many years the vineyards and windmills gave Montmarte an air of the country in the middle of Paris.The basillica of Sacré Coeur was built here from 1876 to 1912 by public subscription as a gesture of expiation after the defeat of 1871 in the Franco-Prussian War.
At the beginning of his political career, the future French statesman Georges Clemenceau was mayor of Montmartre. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became the principal artistic center of Paris. Van Gogh, Brissaud, Matisse, Renoir, Degas, Utrillo, Toulouse-Lautrec and many other artists worked here and drew part of their inspiration from Montmartre. Many are buried in the
Day and night, tourists visit such sights as the place du Tertre and the cabaret du Lapin agile. Montmarte is an officially designated historic district with limited development allowed to maintain its historic character.