Address: 12/14 rue Cortot, Paris
Website: http://www.museedemontmartre.fr/
In the bustling, sometimes slightly vulgar streets of Montmartre, which are virtually swamped by tourist traps, this small museum stands quite apart.
The house itself is the oldest in Montmartre and was the home of several artists renowned in the area. It's worth looking up the history.
The collection focuses on the district and at the time of writing, the exhibition featured 'Le Chat Noir' - the history of the various reincarnations of the club, the circus, the 'Can-Can', the personalities and the art of the period, as well as lots of documentation and contemporary publicity material.
One room was set out as a small bar of the period - known as 'un zinc' because of the zinc tops of the bar itself. You will also see what seemed to be the original posters of 'Le Chat Noir' and 'Aristide Bruant' - so often reproduced and on everyone's wall in the 1970s.
Lots of things to see, with music of the period playing in the background.
The gardens are delightful. There are several spots which feature in well-known impressionist pictures. They are well signposted and referenced. Behind the house, you can see the Montmartre vines - old plantings which still produce wine.
All very interesting and worth a visit. For those who are interested, the museum stimulates lots of "I must look that up later" moments.
For those who don't read French, most of the pieces have short English descriptions but the documents are not wholly translated.
Highly recommended.
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