Kongo took off to climb a mountain yesterday. Well, to be completely accurate, Montmartre is not actually a mountain. But it is a pretty big hill (430 feet high). Montmartre is famous for its eclectic art history, nightclubs, and the majestic Sacré-Cœur Basilica at the top of the hill.

Mrs. Kongo had booked another tour. This one was Montmartre Hill French Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting Walking Tour and it was a tasty walk up this famous Parisian landmark. We started off in front of the iconic Moulin Rouge nightclub. The Kongo’s had visited the Moulin Rouge during a previous visit to Paris and it is an experience that you have to do once in your life. Just once. Read about Kongo’s previous experience at the Moulin Rouge here.

Just around the corner from the red windmill, home of the French can-can, we had our first taste treat where we had some to-die-for Le Merveilleux pastries. These super light, absolutely divine meringue treats were just one of the many culinary highlights on this walking tour. Mrs. Kongo spent the next few days pining about these delicacies and constantly checking her iPhone maps for a nearby shop.

Our wonderful guide led us from shop to shop as we ate our way to the top of Montmartre. We had cream puffs, macrons, chocolate, wine and cheese, quiches, and some other little scrumptious morsel that Kongo can’t remember the name of. Now something to keep in mind is that the caloric intake on this walk will exceed the calories burned climbing the hill. The Merveilleuses alone were 465 calories and that was just a single big bite. This is not a weight loss tour.

While we waddled from one patisserie to the next, our guide pointed out some of the historic landmarks on Montmartre. There were plenty of little spots where famous artists and writers once lived, mansions of the rich and famous, windmills, and even a vineyard (the only one actually in Paris) and of course, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

The windmills on Montmartre used to grind grain and press grapes. Today they house restaurants like the Le Radet windmill. Naturally, these windmills became favorite subjects for the painters of Paris.

A famous Diva most Americans have never heard of is memorialized in a bronze statue lovingly rubbed by her many French admirers. Her stage name was Dalida. Her real name was Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti and she sold more than 140 million records. Streets here are named after her and she owned one of the magnificent mansions on Montmartre.

Dalida committed suicide in 1987. One of her most popular songs, Bambino, released in 1956 was atop the charts as the number one song in France for 45 weeks. The longest #1 hit run in world history. Who knew? You can listen to a short sample of Bambino by clicking the audio file above.

Several movies have been made here including Amélie, a 2001 movie about modern life in Paris set in Montmartre. This was the movie with the traveling gnome, an inspiration for Kongo. The market shown above was a frequent set of the movie and they actually have the real life movie gnome on display here.

Many famous artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Monet lived and worked in this lively neighborhood – attracted to the area’s affordable cost of living and lively atmosphere.

Picasso painted one of his most famous paintings, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. while living in Montmartre, proving that this neighborhood is full of inspiration! Of course, you have to go to New York to see the painting. It’s in the Met.

In the Place du Tertre near the top of Montmartre you can find dozens of artists still painting everything from the fantastic views to tourists sitting for a portrait. This public square, once frequented by many of Paris’s greatest painters, is where amateur artists showcase their talents to eager tourists. It is said that the competition to be an artist at the Place du Tertre is fierce and that the wait to get a spot can be 10-years long.

You can also see a vineyard here in the middle of Paris. It’s the only one and it’s just behind the Sacre Coeur. This little plot of land produces about 800 bottles of wine a year. After harvesting, the grapes are fermented in the local town hall and then auctioned off for charity. The wine has a reputation for being notoriously bad.

The crown jewel of Montmartre is the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur. Construction began in 1875 and continued for forty years under five different architects. Completed in 1914, the basilica was formally consecrated in 1919 after World War I. It was built after France was defeated at the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. The loss was attributed to “moral decay” in France and sparked calls for a new church to revive religious fervor in the country.

The views from here are spectacular and well worth the climb. Even on dreary days, like the one when Kongo visited, the panoramas of Paris are fantastic

Our guide took us on a leisurely stroll to the top of Montmartre. There are faster ways to get here, like a taxi or a funicular railway or even by braving the 237 steps The Kongo’s came down the steps but even then we were feeling it the next morning.

The Kongo’s met a nice couple from Dublin named England on this walking tour. They were flying home the evening of the tour, which is a shame because the monkey would have like to see more of them. Maybe they will meet on future travels.

This was a great tour. You see a lot, eat some great food, drink a little wine, and learn something about the history of Paris. Put it on your list of things to do the next time you visit the City of Light.

Travel safe. Have fun.