Place du Tertre

Place du Tertre is a square situated directly behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica with stone pathways and seating areas spread throughout. The space is surrounded by historic buildings with street-level cafés and restaurants lining the edges where people gather.

The area began as part of a Benedictine abbey founded in the medieval period, serving as the religious and economic center of Montmartre for centuries. After the French Revolution, the abbey disappeared but the square remained and gradually became a public gathering place.

The square has always drawn artists and continues to do so, shaping how it looks and feels today. You see people sketching and painting throughout the day, creating a working creative space that visitors can watch and experience firsthand.

You can reach the square on foot from the base of the hill or take the Montmartrobus line that goes up directly. The space itself is fairly flat and easy to navigate, though getting to the hill from lower areas requires climbing.

The square became a center for artists migrating to Paris in the 1800s, fundamentally shaping how the city developed its art scene. This legacy continues to draw working artists today, making it one of the few places where you can watch painters and portrait artists create work throughout the day.

Location: 18th arrondissement of Paris

Location: Clignancourt

Inception: 1772

Length: 359 m

Width: 212 m

Part of: road network of Paris

Shares border with: impasse du Tertre, place Jean-Marais, Rue des Saules, rue du Calvaire, rue du Mont-Cenis, rue Norvins, rue Poulbot, place du Calvaire

GPS coordinates: 48.88667,2.34083

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:02