Musée de Montmartre
Museum Small museum documenting Montmartre's artistic heritage and Bohemian life
Set in old Montmartre buildings with a small garden once painted by Renoir, Musée de Montmartre traces the neighbourhood’s artist history. Visitors come for period interiors, exhibitions on Toulouse‑Lautrec and easy walks through cobbled streets with views toward Sacré‑Cœur.
The Musée de Montmartre sits in the Montmartre district of Paris and is dedicated to the artists and social life of that neighbourhood during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It occupies a cluster of historic houses on Rue Cortot and preserves associated gardens and studio spaces.
Exhibits present paintings, posters, drawings and archival material documenting the lives and work of artists linked to Montmartre, including displays about Renoir, Utrillo and other painters. The museum complex includes the restored garden commonly known as the Renoir Garden, plus period studio rooms and rotating temporary exhibitions.
The buildings that house the museum date from the 17th and 18th centuries and were home to several artists’ studios and cabarets associated with Montmartre’s bohemian era. Over the 20th century the site was converted into a museum to preserve the district’s artistic heritage.
Located in northern Paris on the hill of Montmartre, the museum is within walking distance of the Place du Tertre and the Sacré-Cur Basilica, served by several Metro lines.
- Location detail: The museum is located on Rue Cortot in the Montmartre quarter and sits in a group of historic 17th- and 18th-century houses that once housed artists' studios.
- Collection focus: The collection focuses on Montmartre-related artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and includes posters, paintings and archival material documenting the neighbourhood's artistic life.
What to See #
- Renoir Garden: A planted public garden associated with the museum where Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted and that has been restored to reflect its late 19th-century layout.
How to Get to Musée de Montmartre #
The Musée de Montmartre is in the Montmartre quarter (Rue Cortot). The easiest public‑transport access is Paris Métro: take line 12 to Abbesses (about a 3-5 minute walk to the museum) or line 2 to Anvers (around 8-12 minutes on foot). Taxis or local buses also serve the hill of Montmartre, but the area is best accessed on foot from the nearest metro stops.
Tips for Visiting Musée de Montmartre #
- Go early on a weekday to enjoy the Musée de Montmartre's gardens and small museum before the surrounding streets fill with tourists headed to Sacré‑Cœur.
- Enter from Rue Cortot to access the museum house and the Renoir garden - the outdoor spaces and vineyard behind the museum are quieter and often overlooked.
- What many visitors miss: the small historic studio spaces and the vineyard behind the property; spend a few minutes in the garden terraces for views over Montmartre rooftops.
- Combine the visit with a gentle walk through the north side of Montmartre (Place du Tertre early or late) to avoid peak crowds around mid‑day.
Best Time to Visit Musée de Montmartre #
Visit Musée de Montmartre in shoulder seasons or winter to avoid the heavy summer crowds in Montmartre.
Weather & Climate near Musée de Montmartre #
Musée de Montmartre's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (686 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 66 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.