Literary Montmartre

Much more than just a Paris neighborhood, Montmartre is a mecca for artistic creation, often referred to as the “literary Montmartre”. This iconic hillside has attracted numerous writers who have captured its bohemian spirit and social diversity.

Émile Zola was one of the first major figures to immortalize the literary Montmartre. In L'Assommoir, he depicts the harsh life of the Parisian working classes, and the neighborhood becomes a central character in his novel. Zola reveals a Montmartre of social struggle, where misery and hope exist side by side.

Another pillar of literary Montmartre is Guillaume Apollinaire, poet and art critic. Apollinaire frequented the cafés and artists' studios where writers and painters mingled. In his collection Alcools, the spirit of Montmartre is palpable in his verses, reflecting the intense artistic life of the neighborhood.

Literary Montmartre was also brought to life by Henri Murger, one of the pioneers of literary Montmartre with Scènes de la vie de bohème (1847). This novel, which inspired the opera La Bohème, depicts the carefree, precarious lives of Montmartre's artists and writers.

Finally, literary Montmartre is brought to life by Marcel Aymé, who lived here for many years. His collection Le Passe-Muraille, published in 1943, is set in Montmartre and perfectly embodies the magical, unreal atmosphere that emanates from the place. A statue of the main character, able to walk through walls, now stands on the Butte, as a tribute to this iconic work. And a Hôtel Littéraire hidden on its slopes pays homage to him!

Literary Montmartre has seen many authors come and go, and their works have immortalized this mythical district, a place of creation and intellectual effervescence.