Sacré Coeur is pretty, but what surrounds it is even better!

Big fat warning – visiting the Sacré Coeur and its cute little alleys and artists square is very picturesque, but completely over-crowded, and just way too touristy. I recommend going there just to have your photo's taken with the Sacre Couer as your background, then turn around and snap another this time using as your background the famous setting from the French movie Amelie (make sure to get the carousel in the shot) – then get out of there as fast as you can!

Break away from the crowds of the artists's square (right to the Sacré Coeur ) and wind your way downwards through the little streets and soak in the fabulous, quieter side of Montmartre.

Go down to Place Marcel Aymé – a square named after French novelist, children's writer, humour writer as well as a movie and theatre playwright. Marcel Aymé's most celebrated short story is Le Passe-Muraille or The Walker-Through-Walls. At this square once can see a sculpture of the story's protagonist 'Dutilleul' literally walking through a wall.

Moving along down the curving roads one comes across Place Dalida – a square named in honor of the Egyptian born, Italian origin, French singer Dalida. This square is situated right in the heart of the Montmatre and is the area where the 55 golden records and recipient of a diamond disc singer chose as her home for its heights and space. The city of Paris erected a bronze memorial there of Dalida's face over-looking the neighborhood she lived in for 25 years where her legacy reigns in this tranquil square. This 'sensuous lady of disco' has become a cult figure to a new generation of fans and is considered to be one of the most influential people who left the greatest impact on French society.

These are just 2 highlights of an abundance of esteemed attractions in this area, such as the house van Gogh and his brother Guillaumin lived in, in 1886 – 54 rue Lepic.