Rue du Mont-Cenis, at the top of Montmartre hill in Paris

The rue du Mont-Cenis in Montmartre is a steeply sloping street, 1,304 meters long and 12 meters wide. It begins at the intersection of rue Saint-Éleuthère and rue Azaïs, in the Montmartre district. It then runs alongside the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church near place du Tertre. It continues past rue Saint-Vincent, rue Lamarck, place Jules-Joffrin, rue Marcadet, rue Ordener, rue Championnet, and boulevard Ornano. It ends at rue Belliard.

The rue du Mont-Cenis is one of the most interesting streets in Montmartre for those looking to rediscover the old village of the Butte, away from the usual routes around Sacré-Cœur.

Note : You will find at the end of the article
1/ A photo gallery
2/ Places to visit nearby and self-guided walks
3/ Your Bonus: 5 essential tips to help you plan and make the most of your stay in Paris

A street—and also a staircase

It features numerous staircases along its route. Fifty-two steps between rue Custine and rue Lamarck, 54 between rue Paul-Féval and rue Saint-Vincent, and 81 between the latter and rue Cortot.

The street that evokes a rocky massif in the Alps

Its very steep layout has borne this name since 1868, in reference to Mont Cenis, a rugged massif in the Northern Alps.

The recent history: the April 1944 bombing

On the night of 20 to 21 April 1944, during the Occupation of the Second World War, the nearby La Chapelle railway depot was bombed by Allied aircraft. These also targeted a German anti-aircraft defence unit on the Montmartre hill. The surrounding area was hit.

A witness recalled: « We were walking up the stairs of rue du Mont-Cenis, at the corner of rue Cortot. From there, we could see the flames rising towards Saint-Denis, and on our way back along rue des Saules, it was the plain of Saint-Denis that was burning. »

Rue du Mont-Cenis, much older than modern Paris

Its history dates back to the Middle Ages. It was then called the “Procession Path” and linked the abbey of Saint-Denis to the abbey on the Montmartre hill. Today, it is represented notably by the church of Saint-Pierre. This path was used during the great processions held every seven years, until 1784.

Every seven years, at the site of the current Jules-Joffrin metro station, representatives of the abbess of Montmartre would meet the monks from the abbey of Saint-Denis. They would accompany them to the top of the hill. This path was known as the “Procession Path”, then as the “Petite rue Saint-Denis” between rue Norvins and rue Marcadet, and later as the “Chaussée Saint-Denis”.

The street officially takes the name of Mont-Cenis in 1868. For a long time, however, it retains the appearance of a village path crossing Montmartre. A major modernization in 1925 partly explains the differences between the historic street and the one we see today.

A street that tells the story of old Montmartre

Its charm lies precisely in not being a typical Parisian street.

Depending on the section, it preserves a succession of slopes, staircases, small houses, walls, passages and irregular perspectives. These elements recall that Montmartre was once a hilltop commune/village before its annexation by Paris in 1860.

In the 19th century, its picturesque character was already pronounced enough to attract painters. The Carnavalet Museum holds several paintings depicting the rue du Mont-Cenis around 1875, including works by Louis Hista and Jules Pétillion.

One of these paintings shows the street as a very steep thoroughfare, with a still-rural architecture and figures moving about.

Why is it unique?

Above all, it is a street to explore, rather than a monument to admire.

It offers a physical understanding of Montmartre’s geography:

plain → slope → hill → village → church → artist studios.

This topography explains much of Montmartre’s character.

The street is also interesting because it allows you to escape the very concentrated tourist route Abbesses → Sacré-Cœur → Place du Tertre.

What a tourist can see on Rue du Mont-Cenis

This is a recommended walk featuring the following route:

Musée de Montmartre → rue Cortot → rue du Mont-Cenis → Saint-Vincent → rue des Saules → Clos Montmartre → Sacré-Cœur.

The Musée de Montmartre is particularly relevant as a starting point: it provides an understanding of the artistic and village history of the neighborhood before experiencing it directly in the streets.

Its true tourist appeal lies in its authenticity. Visitors don’t come to see “a monument”: they come to walk through a piece of old Montmartre, along a route whose medieval origins are well-documented.

To see nearby

You can enjoy exploring Butte Montmartre with our 3 self-guided walks dedicated to it:

Alternatively, you can also see or visit (and book online when available) the following points of interest:

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