Wandering with the cobbled lanes of Montmartre, spying the unusual houses of the village, as well as marvelling in the secret vineyard to be found there, is one of the greatest joys of visiting Paris. This is also true with regards to during the early morning when few individuals about, enjoying Autumn in Montmartre once the mornings are crisp, the leaves start to fall in the trees, and there’s no better time to photograph the 18th arrondissement!
Many visitors result in the Paris mistake of seeing the Sacré-Coeur, strolling beyond the artists of Place du Tertre… and that’s about this with regards to exploring Montmartre! As such, just a few streets back, along rue Cortot, rue de l’Abreuvoir, and behind them still on rue Saint-Vincent, there’s lots of beautiful architecture and greenery to become spied with fewer crowds than those which swell around the Basilica.
When is the greatest time to see autumn leaves in Montmartre?
Of course, the precise day or week the autumn leaves change tends to vary each year depending on the weather and climate of that summer. However, as a rule of thumb, the leaves typically start to alternation in the first week of October and are fully red and orange by the second week.
As such, the optimum time to enjoy fall in Montmartre is during the second and third weeks of October. Go too early and the leaves it's still green; go too late and you’ll have missed all of the leaves at their most beautiful! In order to check on the leaves before making a trip as much as Montmartre, I am inclined to check on social networking, especially, Instagram, to be able to see what others have posted, thus giving a sign on how ‘red’ the autumnal vibes from the 18th have grown to be.
Square Georges Marcel Bleustein-Blanchett
For those who work in search of the secret and secluded park whilst in the area, Square Marcel Bleustein-Blanchett provides one of the best Sacré-Coeur views and it is an absolute delight to sit down set for a little while to pause, chat with friends, or read a great book.
Come fall time, the trailing Wisteria and other greenery transform into an explosion of colour, framing the park and also the Basilica beyond it in vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. It’s important to note that although nothing is left of it today, this square was once the house of among the lost windmills of Paris.
rue Cortot
Directly linking the crossroads where La Maison Rose will be found along with one of the main roads leading with the 18th-arrondissement, despite its lack of fame, there are a surprising quantity of beautiful terraced houses to be spied here, with armloads of trailing plants which turn golden come autumntime.
rue de l’Abreuvoir & Place Dalida
Just the other side of the crossroads from rue Cortot may be the Instagram-famous ‘La Maison Rose‘. A café in operation for more than a hundred years, where even the most prominent of early twentieth-century artists once visited, the trailing vines covering the Montmartre establishment are very pretty to photograph.
Carry on along rue de l’Abreuvoir to the little cobbled square at the end of the Montmartre Street. Get to the end and you’ll be rewarded having a fantastic postcard-perfect outlook during the autumn leaves along the street, even while capturing the Sacré-Coeur without anyone's knowledge.
PS, local legend has it that touching the bust of Dalida’s breasts will give you best of luck and that's why this area of the statue in the centre from the square is so worn! Visit at the same time like a tour group and you’ll soon maintain a queue for snapping a photograph together with the bust of the iconic singer.
Clos Montmartre
When the summer season comes to an end, the environment grows colder, and the nights shorter, Montmartre’s only vineyard transforms from vivid green to a burnt umber shade. Best-seen from just near the Lapin Agile cabaret building during Autumn in Montmartre, this really is one hidden gem from the 18th arrondissement you won’t wish to miss on your sojourn in Paris!
rue Saint-Vincent
If you’ve ever seen a photograph of a lamp set against a burning red set of fall leaves on Instagram, then you’ve almost definitely seen a photo of the iconic post along rue saint-Vincent. For exact directions on how to discover the lamppost (and also the ideal time to go to), make sure to check out my lamppost of Montmartre visitor’s guide.
Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival
Each and each year, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre takes place, typically around the second weekend of October. While the vineyard is closed towards the public throughout the year (though could be spied with the metal grillings which surround it), about this select weekend wine grown in the 18th-arrondissement is auctioned off, with profits going to local causes. Other events during popular festival include dancing, singing, and much more!
Cimetière du Calvaire
There’s a little cemetery in Montmartre that is so small, old, and from the beaten path, that even many Parisians themselves do not are conscious of its existence. Hidden in the shadow of the awe-inspiring domes of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the Cimetière du Calvaire (Calvaire Cemetery) isn't just the tiniest cemetery in Paris, but it is even the oldest- And it is only open for just one day annually!
That day happens to be the 1st of November (that is obviously during the autumn), making a visit to the Cimetière du Calvaire one of the best things to do in Montmartre in fall. While visiting the cemetery is free, you can go to by tour in French only. There's typically a short waiting time to get in and it’s most certainly worth going for a peek inside if you’re able to!
