Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Montmartre is one of the most beautiful streets in Paris. It’s a gorgeous spot, with its two photogenic pink houses and ivy draped over old stone walls.
But it’s the view of the dome and tower of Sacré Coeur Basilica that is most enchanting and makes it truly special.
My guide to Rue de l’Abreuvoir delves into the street’s 700-year history, including the many great artists it has attracted over the last 150 years or so.
I also show you everything there is to see there and in the surrounding parts of Montmartre and cover the all-important matter of how to get there.
Enjoy!
Where To Stay In Montmartre
La Bohème Montmartre – Studios & Apartments de luxe – fantastic apartments on rue St Rustique, another picturesque centuries-old street just up the hill from Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Timhotel Montmartre – popular 3-star in great location around the corner from Abbesses Metro station
Hotel Bohem Sacré Coeur – beautifully decorated 4-star very close to Lamarck-Caulaincourt Metro, a 3-minute walk up the hill to Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Terrass” Hotel – 4-star a little further away and closer to Pigalle, with one of the best rooftop views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris
Why Visit Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is one of the most picturesque streets in Paris.
This street in Montmartre is also one of the most famous streets in Paris because of the view of Sacré Coeur Basilica from the lower end of the street.
It is also famous as the home of La Maison Rose, The Pink House, a restaurant rich in 20th century art history.
It was visited by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, friends of owner Ramon Pichot, and also painted by Montmartre artist Maurice Utrillo (who also painted a picture of Rue de l’Abreuvoir from the bottom of the hill).
La Maison Rose is one of the best-known Montmartre Instagram spots, with its green window shutters and cute small size (a modern building rises a few storeys behind it).
The top of the street also has several other beautiful houses close to La Maison Rose, while the opposite side of the street is a castle-like stone wall with trees within the enclosed area.
Music lovers make a pilgrimage to Place Dalida, at the bottom of Rue de l’Abreuvoir, to see the bust of the famous French-Egyptian singer and actor Dalida who lived nearby in Montmartre.
It’s also very close to many other things to do in Montmartre, and easy to reach.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir History
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is believed to be one of the oldest streets in Paris, with the earliest written reference to it dated 1325. It was then known as the ‘ruelle qui va au but’ – the road which goes to the end.
It was given its present name some time before 1843. An ‘abreuvoir’ is a water trough, though no trace of one is visible nowadays.
The water trough would have been used by livestock – a reminder of the rural nature of Montmartre village until later in the 19th century.
The House of the Eagles (Maison des Aigles) at 4 Rue de l’Abreuvoir may well be the oldest house on the street – its stonework is certainly weathered, was the home of Napoleonic historian Henry Lachouque (1883-1971).
Look closely at the façade of the house and you should spot a stone eagle and a wonderful sundial with a carved cockerel and the inscription, ”Quand tu sonneras, je chanteray,” which means, ”When you shine, I will sing.”
12 Rue de l’Abreuvoir was the residence of influential Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro.
Montmartre Tours
This Montmartre guided walking tour includes a stop at La Maison Rose and Rue de l’Abreuvoir on a 2-hour-plus visit to the district.
This Montmartre for Art Lovers walking tour looks at the area from a different angle, looking into its artistic connections on a walk from Montmartre Cemetery to Sacré Coeur.
And this Montmartre for Food Lovers tour gives you a great introduction to the area’s cafes and patisseries, with six stops (and plenty of calories, no doubt!) along the way.
Where Is Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is on the northern slope of the Butte de Montmartre (Montmartre hill) in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.
It’s in the westernmost quartier (area) of the 18th arrondissement, Grandes Carrières, which is named after the gypsum quarries that used to operate there.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir is a fairly short street, 133 metres in length, and runs between Rue des Saules to the east to Place Dalida and Rue Girardon to the west.
Getting To Rue de l’Abreuvoir
Hilly Montmartre isn’t the easiest part of Paris to get around, with at least one steep walk usually involved getting around the area. However, if you’re a bit limited in mobility, you’re in luck, as the RATP number 40 bus stops within metres of Rue de l’Abreuvoir, at the Abreuvoir-Girardon stop next to Place Dalida.
The 40 bus follows a convoluted circular route which passes three of the closest Metro stations to Rue de l’Abreuvoir, and Sacré Coeur, which is close to the top of the Montmartre funicular.
The nearest Metro stop to the street is Lamarck-Caulaincourt on line 12. It’s a short, partly stepped walk up from there to Rue de l’Abreuvoir.
My favourite route to Rue de l’Abreuvoir is from Abbesses Metro, on the other (south) side of the Butte de Montmartre.
What To Do In Montmartre Near Rue De L’Abreuvoir
Place Dalida offers the best view of Rue de l’Abreuvoir, with the central dome and campanile of the Sacré Coeur Basilica rising behind the ivy-covered houses along the street.
Dalida – born Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti – was a singer and actress who enjoyed enormous popularity across much of Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Her career lasted from the 1950s through until her tragic suicide in 1987.
A bust on the small, shaded square commemorates her, and visitors can also glimpse her house on nearby Rue d’Orchampt.
Sacré Coeur is one of the most popular things to see in Montmartre, and around a five-minute walk away. The early 20th century Romano-Byzantine church is one of the great Paris landmarks, and one of the most popular places to visit in Paris. Rue St Rustique, which runs parallel to Rue Norvins and Place du Tertre, also has a beautiful Sacré Coeur view.
One of the most famous squares in Paris, the Place du Tertre, is within a minute’s walk of Sacré Coeur. It’s crammed with restaurants, but the best thing about it is the atmosphere and the view of Sacré Coeur on a summer evening.
Many who visit Montmartre also decide to get their portraits painted by one of the artists on the square – or buy one of their evocative paintings of the scene with Sacré Coeur.
Back down the hill, closer to Rue de l’Abreuvoir, the Musée de Montmartre is a great place to find out more about the area, and the Clos de Montmartre across the street is a beautiful small vineyard.
A little further down the hill, lovers of cabaret should pay a visit to Au Lapin Agile, which has been running shows since 1860.
Rue de l’Abreuvoir Paris – Final Thoughts
I hope that you’ve found this article useful. Rue de l’Abreuvoir is one of my favourite streets in Paris, and one of the most picturesque in the city. It’s also one of the few left which feels and looks like it’s in a country town rather than a heaving metropolis – which is another thing that makes it so wonderful.
I’ve written many more articles on Paris and France generally, and here’s a selection of them for you to browse:
Montmartre
Abbesses Metro Station Paris – one of the most beautiful Metro stations in Paris
Rue de l’Abreuvoir – one of the most picturesque streets in Paris
Rue St Rustique Paris – ancient Parisian street in the heart of Montmartre
Sacré Coeur Basilica Paris – the white-domed symbol of Montmartre
Bridges in Paris
Famous Paris Bridges – 15 of the most beautiful bridges on the Seine
Pont Alexandre III Paris – the most flamboyant, ornate bridge in Paris
Bir-Hakeim Bridge Paris – stunning double-decker bridge near the Eiffel Tower
Pont des Arts Paris – elegant iron bridge connecting the Louvre and Institut de France
Pont Neuf Paris – the venerable oldest bridge in Paris, and sometime art installation subject
Parks in Paris
Square du Vert Galant Paris – the most romantic garden in Paris
Jardin du Luxembourg – one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris
Tuileries Garden Paris – amazing garden near the Louvre
Parc Monceau Paris – gorgeous folly-filled park near the Arc de Triomphe
Statue of Liberty in Paris – seek out the replicas of Lady Liberty across the French capital
Churches In Paris
22 Famous Churches in Paris – 22 ecclesiastical wonders
La Sainte Chapelle Paris – one of the wonders of the Gothic Age
Basilica of St Denis Paris – the birthplace of Gothic architecture
Saint Germain des Pres – landmark ancient Left Bank church
Saint Etienne du Mont – stunning Latin Quarter church
Saint Sulpice Church Paris – vast Neoclassical church dominating the Latin Quarter skyline
Pantheon Paris – the resting place of many famous French luminaries
Saint-Séverin Church Paris – Left Bank Gothic wonder
St Julien Le Pauvre – humble ancient church within sight of Notre Dame