Kay Proffitt, accordion and vocals,

Trish Featherstone, fiddle,

David Wojnowski, banjo and bodhran/percussion,

Bill Walker flute, tin whistle, and guitar,

Christine Fraser Ramsey, vocals and celtic harp.

We are also lucky enough to have special guest musicians occasionally join us, such as NARADA recording artist and composer, John Whelan. John is also the 7 time all-Ireland button box champion.

Technorati Tags: celtic music, heartstone music, traditional celtic music

Heartstone is a Celtic band that has acclaim in traditional Irish dance music and traditional Scottish (or Highland) dance music.

Heartstone plays a range of songs, and they enjoy performing traditional ballads to soothe the soul as well as lively dance music to get your toes to tap. They promote Celtic culture through their preservation of the traditional jigs, reels, songs, ballads, and tunes.

Technorati Tags: celtic music, heartstone music, traditional celtic music

The state of New York is home to many unique attractions. It is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery scattered over 11 different regions.

The Central-Leatherstocking region of New York is rich in history and beautiful landscapes. Both the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame are located there. You can learn the art and history of beer making on a tour of Saranac Brewery in Utica. For something completely different, you can visit Howe Caverns or Secret Caverns and see incredible underground stone formations. The world’s smallest church is in Oneida. Don’t miss the Cherry Valley Museum with its selection of 17th and 18th Century clothing.

The Adirondack region contains thousands of lakes, ponds, and hiking trails. You can hike along the Ausable Chasm or go fishing in the Ausable River. You can explore a remote wilderness area with a guide. You can also visit the Black River for rafting and Lake Champlain for swimming. Lake George features water sports, as well as the 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam.

The Chautauqua-Allegheny region has many well-preserved Victorian homes. You’ll also find in this area the Panama Rocks and the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Jamestown is Lucille Ball’s hometown. It has a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnaz’s life together.

The Capital-Saratoga region is noted for the historic Capitol in Albany, as well as covered bridges, woodlands, farms, or church steeples against a bright blue sky. In Albany you can see Nipper, the giant dog sculpture that is the trademark for RCA. You can visit Schenectady’s Stockade, a Dutch Village settled some 300 years ago.

Waterfalls, mountains, forests, and streams are all part of the Catskills region. Bethel, home of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, now host a variety of musical events each summer. There is also the world’s largest kaleidoscope, Catskill Game Farm, Zoom Flume Water Park and a number of European-style wineries.

The Finger Lakes offers the great outdoors, wonderful heritage tours, and unlimited opportunities to feed the mind, body and spirit. The George Eastman house and the Sciencenter are just two of the region’s attractions.

Everyone, especially honeymooners, has heard about Niagara Falls. Other attractions in the Greater Niagara region include Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park, Letchworth State Park, and the Metrorail system in downtown Buffalo. You can also visit the Jell-O museum in LeRoy.

The Hudson River region features President Franklin Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park. Newburgh is the site of General George Washington’s headquarters. The restaurants in the area are legendary, as is Hudson Valley wine. The beauty of the region has inspired artists for hundreds of years, as well as such writers as Thomas Jefferson.

The Long Island region has 118 mile of beaches. At its eastern tip is the historic Montauk Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington. You can camp nearby on the beach at Hither Hills State Park and get up early to watch the beautiful sunrise. The island is steeped maritime heritage and features national laboratory science museum and others, zoos, and working farms.

The Thousand Islands region features nearly 2,000 islands. There you can enjoy power boating, sailing, whitewater rafting, fishing, golfing, tennis and hiking. Boldt Castle is set on an island fashioned into the shape of a heart and is a monument to a real-life love story.

Joe Goertz
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/attractions-of-the-state-of-new-york-73718.html

Sited on the middle of Indonesian archipelago, first discovered by the European sailors, Bali becomes truly tranquil island. It is the earthy paradise for those, who are dedicated to the beauty of the tropical island. For summer holiday, honeymoon or even family perfect holiday. Not only its attractive view and exotic tourism spot but also the hospitality of the people you hardly find in a metropolitan city or highest civilization. Many travelers mesmerized by not just a part of it but almost completely all. The power of attracting people in the world has make Bali as one of the “must visit” world’s tourist destination.

Over 8 regencies spread out beautiful spots to be visited through the over 3 million inhabitants. Further, each of them presents unique character of the culture itself. The selling point of this island is The Hindus culture with the temples from ancient age. There is no day without celebration toward the God. The tradition blends within the Hindus people, their daily life filled in by ritual culture. Once you experienced Bali, the air of the island will capture your soul. The daily life and activities of the people reflect their spiritual culture. Everywhere you go all that can be found is ritual ceremony and the offerings on the street, temples, big trees and other places believed existing holy spirits. The belief and culture might be the main attention for tourist to get fascinated in conjunction with their aim to visit some tourist destinations spread along Bali.

Thus Bali is known as “Heaven on Earth” trough enchanting scenery, as it is acknowledged as “Island of Thousand Temples”. Along the paradise you will be able to find many temples from centuries ago remain with their unique and stunning presentation. Besakih Temple is the mother temple of all temples in Bali. It’s nestled on the slope of the highest mountain, Mount Agung. Other temples for they’re famed by where the two temples sited are Uluwatu Temples and Tanah Lot Temples. Uluwatu Temple is on the edge of the cliff in which it’s inhabited by group of monkeys. Right below the temple, most surfers find Uluwatu beach as paradise for high wave lovers. On the other part, Tanah Lot Temple is the 16th century temple that beautifully perched at the sea, rocky silhouette where many people come during the sunset to spoil their eyes and feel the moment. Whenever it’s not tide you are able to walk to reach the temple. Another mystical thing about this temple is the cave where there’s a holy snake living.

For accommodation, there are “bunch of hotels” can be hunted. From those small hotels or inns, which offer good rate with a standard service until those who have fantastic rate including their luxurious rooms, wonderful view and exclusive services. They are located not just around tourism object more likely in such “out of civilization” places, up high on the cliff or hill as well as down to the river and rice field area.

For surfers and passionate travelers, find your pleasure at south coast of Bali. Kuta is about 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport where the white sand’s beach stretch over 10 Km. Travelers come not without any reason since this place has all that every traveler’s desire. Don’t just discern to the beach for it’s fantastic wave, topless sunbathers, masseurs relax your body with compatible price and those vendors selling the crafts, in spite of those motives try to give a glance at the night life as experiencing it, lots of fun can be gained. Even just for a chill out time at cafes or bar on the street to a tranquil dinner in a decent restaurant accompanied by easy listening music or “Gamelan” Balinese traditional music instrument.

Inland, away from the beach, some villages illustrate the serenity of the paradise. Hide away from the crowd, up to the mountain area where heart can be so peaceful by the lush tropical plants or green paddy fields. Central Bali and northern Bali is really famous by terraced rice fields, down to the Tabanan regency. The fresh air surround you whilst the song of the bird rhythm through the morning breeze. Feel the harmony within mind.

One to be attained for home present can be found down the art craft’s place. Just about the tourism object, plenty of art shops offer good stuffs for reasonable price and suggested for bargaining. Along the road of Gianyar regency, you will find handicraft’s shop, woodcarvings even jewelries workshop. As the eyes gaze to the display of wood or stone statue and painting, you can as well visit a village named Celuk for silver or gold jewelries or go along Mas village for another comparison instead.

Experience more to the bottomless part of Bali while you are away for holiday. Get the excitement differently through the places you visit, hence it’s never going to be ever come to Bali but for ever remain coming for another visit.

Putu Eka Sariningsih
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/bali-the-earthy-paradise-60453.html

In the Roman times York city walls were built they have been rebuilt over time and been added to and have part from across centuries. Firstly built as a defences now focused on conservation. The wall is open every day from 8.00 until dusk.

A few of Yorks famous attractions are York Minster, the National Railway Museum, JORVIK and York Castle Museum.

York Minster is one of it greatest buildings. Filled with music, has human imagination on stone glass and other fabrics. York Minster is the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe.

A must for visitors is the world famous JORVIK Viking Centre it is one of most visited attraction in the UK outside London.

York Castle Museum shows how people used to live by recreating shops streets and rooms. It is best known for Victoria Street Kirkgate. It show real shop fitting stock and light effects of Victorian Britain.
The museum was named after the former York Castle which stood on the site and was open in 1938.

The National Railway Museum takes you on a journey of discovery it brings back the magic of railways.
It is the worlds largest collection of railway icons.

Why not visit one of the award winning restaurants Blue Bicycle Rish or Meltons. The City also has a independent Brewery. York has a pub for every night of the year.

Newgate market is the heart and soul of the city and is between Parliament Street and the Shambles. It has 110 stalls in the market square within Europes largest pedestrianised area.

The farmers markets take place in Parliament Street which is in the city centre. The producers farmers or growers or within 40 miles of the city of York and sell their goods directly to public cutting out the middle man. The goods sold on York markets have been caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked, grown or processed by the stall holders. Market or held on the last Friday on the month.
The Mansion House is the home of the Lord Mayor of York during her or his term of office. It was restored in 1998 by York Civic Trust and brought back to a standard worthy of the city of York.

Leeds Bradford airport is only 45 minutes from York City and flight arrival from all destinations. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to London Heathrow airport and Manchester airport is only 2 hours away.

Douglas Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/attractions-in-york-107245.html

The mystery behind the stones spreads out from the narrow streets and houses and castle of Behramkale down to the meadows below and the vast sea beyond Cappadocia: Situated in the heart of Turkey, amidst a unique landscape of volcanic tufa rock sculpted by the continuous erosion of the elements. It is a biblical land, the land of St. Paul, where the first Christians carved churches and dwellings out of fairy chimneys and dug subterranean cities to evade the Uralo-Altaic invaders.Although Assos is a long seven-hour drive from Istanbul through Thrace and across the Dardanelles, this enchanting seaside village provides a restful and an intellectual retreat. Also known as Behramkale, the tiny village is divided into two halves stretching along the quays of the old harbor and climbing up the rocky hill above.

The temple of Athena, a majestic Doric ruin of grey stone, is one of the most important antique sites in the region. It stands atop the highest rocky outcrop of a cliff above the Aegean Sea and looks across to the Greek island of Lesbos. The agora and gymnasium are visible from the steep road that descends to the sea.

The mystery behind the stones spreads out from the narrow streets, houses and castle of Behramkale down to the meadows below and the vast sea beyond. Historians recall that the city of Assos was founded by Aeolians from the city of Methymna on the island of Lesbos (Mytilene) and that it was under Lydian rule from 560-547 B.C. and Persian rule from 547-479 B.C., later gaining its independence and becoming a member of the Athenian Naval League. Assos is ideal for days of pleasure and romance. In a successful attempt at architecturally sensitive tourist development, many of the hotels in Assos are built from local stone and blend in wonderfully with the village’s older buildings.

Assos (Behramkale, Asos), though an ancient Aeolian city, has made its mark as a tourist attraction only at the end of the 1980s. With a rocky hillside to lean upon, the city is set above the charming and unspoiled finishing village of Behramkale in the Aegian region.

If you are planning a quiet holiday far away from the maddening crowd, then this small, romantic Turkish province is the best choice. Assos (Behramkale, Asos) promises a vintage charm like never before.

History of Assos

Aeolian colonists from Lesbos laid the foundation of Assos (Behramkale, asos) in the 7th century B.C., which passed under Lydian rule some 100 years later. In 546 B.C. when the Lydians were defeated in the hands of Persians, the beginning of Persian rule in Assos (Behramkale, asos) was marked. Some of the prominent Persian governors of the region were Ariobarzanes, Euboulos, Hermias. Hermius, who was a eunuch, was a pupil of Plato and a friend of Aristotle.

The later stayed in Assos (Behramkale, asos) from 348-345 B.C. Alexander invaded the city in 334 B.C. and later it was attached to the Pergamon kingdom (241-133 B.C.). Pergamon rule was succeeded by Roman rule and consequently by Byzantine Empire. After 395A.D., i.e. during the Byzantine rule, the city came to be known as Makhram. Finally with Murad I ascending the throne in 1359 A.D., Assos came under Ottoman rule, which ended in 1389 A.D.

Main Attractions in AssosThere are many attractions in the historical city of Assos including the Acropolis, the temple of Athena, and the Kadirga Beach. In this part, we will present an introduction to these attractions.

The Acropolis

The acropolis at Assos is built on a hill, 236m above the sea level. Dating back to as early as the Bronze Age, the acropolis is endowed with some awe-inspiring Greek ruins. The remains of a 2500 years old defense wall (3km of which is still intact) and the ruins of the Doric-style temple of Goddess Athena are some of them.Apart from the ruins, this town is located above the modern harbor of Assos (Behramkale, Asos) also boasts of some magnificent views like those of the tranquil Aegean Sea or the Greek island of Lesvos. To reach the town you require a straight uphill climb along the cliff road for about 30-45 minutes.

Temple of Athena

The temple of Athena (530 B.C.) situated on top of the city is surrounded by olive groves and encompassed by crumbling city walls and an ancient necropolis (cemetery). The temple entails six columns on the short side and thirteen columns on the long side outside the building. Nearby the temple stands the Ottoman Murad Hudavendigar mosque, a 14th century structure.

Kadirga Beach

This beach is quite beautiful, long and fairly isolated. It is conveniently accessible and you require only half-an-hour walk along the coast or a descend along the back of the citadel, to reach it.

Another picturesque spot is the Hamlet called Iskele (dock, wharf), which is located at the edge of the Aegean Sea. This charming place is dotted with old stone houses that are used as inns, pensions and restaurants. Some other must-sees of Assos (Behramkale, Asos) are the Amphitheatre, ancient watchtowers, etc.

Activities in Assos

Tourists flock in large number in this small, serene Aegean town of Assos, which is far off from the hustle-bustle of the more famous tourist spots of Turkey. Assos promises lots of activities and thus caters to the interests of different age group of visitors.

Day trips can be arranged to visit the famed ruins of Greek and the Roman city of Troy. These are about a 45 minutes drive from Assos (Behramkale, Asos), towards the North. Tourist buses are available or you can avail private conveyance to reach the spot. A solitary walk amidst the ruins, especially at night, is really therapeutic.

Water-loving visitors can indulge in leisurely swimming and Kadyrga beach and Antique harbor are best for swimming.

If you are a marketing freak then you can find some of the best quality olive oil, soap or carpets in this region. Some good handicraft items of this place are handmade towels, laces, etc. However it’s essential to bargain before purchasing.

Assos Restaurants

You can try selections from the Turkish cuisine in Assos, in various restaurants. Hasanaki - Hasanaki happens to be the most famous fish restaurant of Assos (Behramkale, Asos). Located amidst the camping sites around Ayvacik, this beach restaurant stands on a highway, which runs parallel to the sea. At sunset, the tables are placed on the sandy beach and the fresh air complement the fresh and delicious foods served at the Hasanaki restaurant. Local fishermen supply fresh fishes, octopus, squids, shrimps, etc and the vegetables are also grown in the neighboring farms.

Fenerlihan - This restaurant has a tranquil charm as it stands on the water at the end of the harbor. It offers magnificent views of the sunset as well as a mouth-watering array of foods. Though Fenerlihan restaurant provides a wide variety of traditional Turkish foods, its main focus is on seafood. Here you can make your choice from the fresh supply of Mackerel, Red snapper, Sea bass, etc and can also select the style of cooking like grilled or fried. Often there are live music shows at night.

Assos Hotels and Transportation

To reach Assos (Behramkale, Asos), you need to avail a bus from Ayvalik or Canakkale, which will drop you at Ayvacik - 19km away from Assos (Behramkale, Asos). From here you can avail either a minibus or taxi to reach Assos (Behramkale, Asos). The nearest airports to Assos (Behramkale, Asos) are Canakkale (small) and Izmir (big).

In Assos (Behramkale, Asos), there are various types of accommodation facilities. Some of the recommendable hotels include:

Assos park hotel - This pleasant and extremely comfortable four-star hotel stands a few kilometers away from the main township of Assos and the famed ruins. The main features of the hotel are comfortable rooms, outdoor dinning area, a beautiful pool, access to private beach and sumptuous Turkish cuisine.

Caravansarai hotel - In Turkey several caravansarais have been converted into hotels and this is undoubtedly the best among them. Located on the harbor, this hotel with a stunning exterior promises magnificent views and access to swimming in the crystal clear water. Salient features of this hotel are large rooms, air conditioning, outside eating area, a bar and a smaller restaurant for snacking.

Other good hotels of the area are Assos Eden beach hotel, Nazlihan boutique hotel and the Assos Eden Gardens hotel.

Ambrid John

Can you imagine vacation in the Northern Cyprus without tasting traditional cuisine?
For every holidaymaker this means definitely an inseparable adventure as tasty Cypriot food represents a part of the unique culture.

North Cyprus is literally studded with restaurants from the authentic Cypriot cuisine, which offer very good value for money, to the fashionable restaurants like French, Chinese or Indian.

Lying on the crossroad of the three continents, the Turkish-Cypriot cuisine has been influenced by different cultures throughout history, owing most of its heritage to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. Many dishes vary from region to region making North Cyprus a marvelous place to eat. The finest restaurants are, however, found in and around Kyrenia.

Over the years the culinary offerings in Northern Cyprus have grown as has the demand for their services. Not only the residents of the island required their services but also by the growing number of tourists that visit the island each year.

The first restaurants on the island were more local in nature and offered Cypriot dishes such as kebabs and mezes. The most famous of these restaurants are
located in the Kyrenia harbour area. It’s a pleasure to enjoy a candlelight dinnerwhile gazing at the warm light illuminated Kyrenia castle. Between the breath taking scenery and the scrumptious cuisine it is hard to tell which casts the stronger spell on you.

As the international community on the island is continually growing there has been a push towards more family oriented restaurants, similar in nature to TGI Fridays and Steak Houses, “Stone Grill / Cafe Duka” to name a few have opened in and around Kyrenia.

Cafe Bars and English Pubs

There are lots of Cafe bars and English pubs across Northern Cyprus, like the rest of the Mediterranean islands the cafe bar culture is to be seen everywhere.
There is a great range of Cafe bars in and around Kyrenia Harbor that serve a good choice of beers and food. You can also find some great bars in the better
hotels, The Colony Hotel the Rocks Hotel and the Merrit Hotel to name a few also offer entertainment however they can be expensive, so please bear this in mind.

Some English bars worth mentioning are, Villa Swallow that is situated just two minutes walk from the Harbour, it offers a great selection of beers and superb home cooked English food, the Fireman’s Fez Pub is handy to know as it serves good old fish and chips on a Friday evening and the Castle Pub in araoglanoglu which is only five minutes away is very convenient if you want to watch the live football.

The Santori Holiday Village is a great place for a night cap especially in the summer when there is a great atmosphere around the pool bar and restaurant.

The Escape beach offers both bars and Nightclub during the summer months. It is a great place for the latest in dance music and with its open air club next to the sea you could not ask for a better setting.

Restaurants

Niazis Restaurant

Niazis Restaurant has been serving good quality food, mainly kebabs and steaks, to locals and tourists for over 40 years. His now famous kebabs have stopped people needing a starter ever since day one, and with a wide selection of desserts to suit every taste, you really are spoiled for choice. Positioned in the heart of Kyrenia center, just 2 minutes walk from the harbor, you are also in the perfect position to seek out some late night entertainment. Open 7 days a week.

Pizza Garden

Pizza Garden is just a few miles to the west of Kyrenia and this is very popular restaurant that serves various foods throughout the day. Famous for their individual style & taste in a pizza and those delicious, thick chocolate/brandy milkshakes, you can sit and watch the best sunsets the island has to offer in this relaxed and tranquil location. Open 7 days a week, closed from November to March.

Carob

Rich in history and architecture, this delightful restaurant is situated right in the heart of Kyrenia harbor, with its old fishing boats and imposing backdrop of the ancient Kyrenia castle. There are 3 floors in total with the “roof top terrace” being the most popular place for diners to enjoy the amazing view on offer. The menu is extensive and there really is something to suit all tastes, so whilst in the Northern Cyprus the Carob is a must. Open 7 days a week.

The Ambiance

The Ambiance is opened by 2 of the most experienced and popular restaurateurs in the Northern and offers its diners something different from the average restaurant. Set right on the seas edge in the very popular village of Karaoglanoglu, you can relax and enjoy one of the most extensive menus on the island whilst listening to the waves gently splashing against the rocks. The evening is busy and the atmosphere is perfect, the day is laid backed with the chance to relax on loungers and soak up the rays, all in all, the perfect choice. Open 7 days a week, booking essential.

Altinkaya 1

Altinkaya 1 is just 5 miles west of Kyrenia city center on the Kyrenia-Lapta road. This is lovely fish restaurant which offers panoramic views and a friendly atmosphere, open 7 days a week.

Chinese House

Peking and Cantonese dishes served at Kyrenia’s popular Chinese House situated just 1.5 km west of the city center. There are indoor and outdoor seating arrangements so you can enjoy the authentic dishes any time of the year. Closed on Sundays.

Efendis House

Efendis House is situated in the old Turkish quarter with a delightful courtyard garden and giant apricot tree. This old time restaurant has a small but delicious menu, the staff is all friendly and the atmosphere is perfect. Closed on Mondays. If you are looking for a good quality Indian restaurant, look no further. The location is both convenient and impressive and offers diners a wide choice of menu including authentic indian dishes, some French cuisine and an impressive choice of Italian. Something for everyone. And it’s all about Jashans.

The Stone Grill

The Stone Grill offers a superb setting and benefiting from a innovative idea that you can cook your own dinner in front of you! The idea seemed strange at first but has quickly taken off with the full car park an indication of its success. Open 7 days a week

The Address

One of just a few restaurants that stay busy all through the year, and when you taste the food you will know exactly why. Whether it’s on the terrace in the summer, or indoors in the winter, The Address always has a fantastic atmosphere. Closed on Tuesdays.

St Tropez

Looked upon as one of the superior restaurants in Northern Cyprus, and quite rightly so, St Tropez has built up a superb reputation over the years. With an excellent menu to suit all tastes, friendly and efficient staff, a separate ‘cocktail bar’ and a wine list to rival all others, St Tropez is perfect for that special evening out. Open 7 days a week.

Julia Ramyalg
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/northern-cyprus-restaurants-and-bars-guide-71756.html

The 18th arrondissement of northern Paris is located on the Right Bank of the Seine River. Its land area is about 2.3 square miles (a sliver over six square kilometers). The population is one hundred eighty five thousand and the area is home to about seventy thousand jobs.

The distinctive Moulin Rouge (Red Mill or windmill) is the central highlight of this historic district. It is one of the world’s best-known nightclubs or to use the French term, cabaret. The Moulin Rouge was built in 1889 by the owner of the Olympia, Paris’s oldest music hall located in the neighboring ninth district. You can’t miss this building because of the imitation red windmill on the roof. Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra, Mistinguett, Edith Piaf, and many other famous entertainers regularly played the Moulin Rouge. The story has it that Elvis had a crush on a can-can dancer and never went to Paris without stopping at the Moulin Rouge.

This cabaret’s most unusual star was undoubtedly Joseph Pujol, who performed under the name Le Petomane. His act consisted of “singing” from a rather unexpected body opening. His “songs” included the French National Anthem, La Marseillaise, and an imitation of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. I’m told Sigmund Freud used to catch his act. Believe it or not, for many years Pujol was the highest-paid entertainer in France. A present-day British comedian Mr. Methane dressed like a superhero does the same sort of thing, but to my knowledge has not played the Moulin Rouge.

This historic cabaret, arguably the site where striptease was born, has been immortalized in paintings by Toulouse Lautrec and to a lesser extent by two films nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award, the 1952 version starring Jose Ferrer and Zsa-Zsa Gabor and the 2001 version starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.

Butte Montmartre is a hill about four hundred feet (one hundred thirty meters) high not very much more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Moulin Rouge. Its height and natural beauty have attracted religious ceremonies since time immemorial. Montmartre was probably used for druid ceremonies in the distant past. It once hosted a temple to the Roman god of war Mars. Saint Denis, the Bishop of Paris and the patron saint of France, founded a church there before he was martyred in the mid-Third Century. His church, the relatively unknown Saint Pierre de Montmartre, claims to be the founding location of the Jesuit order of priests. You are more likely to visit the hill’s other church, the Basilica du Sacre Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) described below.

The area itself was the site of the first Paris Commune insurrection in 1870-1871 and its former gypsum mines serve as unmarked tombs for many partisans of this French revolution. The whole affair was pretty bloody and the Archbishop of Paris was one of its many martyrs. When Paris was reconstructed in the Eighteenth Century by Napoleon III and his minion Baron Hausmann, the poor people of Paris were driven out of the city center to Montmartre and other parts of the outskirts.

From the late Nineteenth Century until the end of World War One Montmartre was home to the artists and their milieu. Among those who hung their hats in Montmartre were Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh. The list goes on and on. In later years the artistic center of Paris, and in fact the world, switched from Montmartre to Montparnasse located in the south of Paris. In 1965 in his famous song La Boheme the popular French singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour tells the story of a painter reminiscing about his youth in a Montmartre that has ceased to exist: Je ne reconnais plus/Ni les murs, ni les rues/Qui ont vu ma jeunesse/En haut d’un escalier/Je cherche l’atelier/Dont plus rien ne subsiste/Dans son nouveau decor/Montmartre semble triste/Et les lilas sont morts (’I no longer recognize/Neither the walls nor the streets/That had seen my youth/At the top of a staircase/I look for an atelier/Of which nothing survives/In its new decor/Montmartre seems sad/And the lilacs are dead’).

Montmartre is no longer bohemian. But what is? If you stroll around the Place du Tertre you won’t have any trouble finding artists, some of whom are struggling. Many renowned artists and other cultural figures such as Jacques Offenbach and Francois Truffault are buried in the Cimetiere de Montmartre (Montmartre Cemetery).

In 1873 Paris city council expropriated land at the summit of Montmartre for the construction of the Basilica. The foundation stone was laid in 1875 and the church was opened for services in 1891. The Basilica was only completed in 1914, and formally dedicated after the end of World War I. Go to top of the dome for a spectacular panoramic view of Paris, which lies mostly to the south. The church and its surroundings have often starred in films, most recently the 2001 movie Amelie. You may want to take the funicular (cable-car) to get to the top of the hill.

Among Montmartre’s museums you will find the Musee de Montmartre, the house where the painter Maurice Utrillo lived and worked in a second-floor studio. Several other well-known artists including Pierre-Auguste Renoir lived here. In 1990 his painting Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre featuring local people sold for more than $78 million. You might also want to stop by the Espace Dalí, a museum devoted to the famous Spanish painter Salavdor Dalí. More extensive collections of his work are found in Figueres, Spain and Saint Petersburg, Florida. Another museum is the Musee de l’erotisme in the nearby Pigalle section of the district. Do you need a translation?

When we launched this series we promised you a Paris vineyard. The fifteenth arrondissement in southern Paris also hosts a vineyard. But Montmartre’s vineyard is much more famous. Local intellectuals planted the vineyard in 1934. They chose a northern exposure (is Paris really that hot, temperature wise?) and organized the first grape picking a year after the planting, about three years too early. This ceremony attracted both the President of the French Republic and the Minister of Agriculture. With the exception of the World War II years, every October the grapes are picked and wine is made in the cellar of the Mairie (the local City Hall). Local artists paint labels for the bottles, sold in April at a charity auction. Yet one more reason to visit Paris and Montmartre in the spring.

Of course you don’t want to tour Paris without sampling fine French wine and food. Let me suggest a sample menu: Start with Foie Gras avec Gelee de Viognier (Goose Liver Pate with Viognier Jelly). For your second course savor Chevreau a l’Ail et Herbes Sauvages (Baby Goat with Garlic and Wild Herbs). And as dessert indulge yourself with Granite aux Pommes et Calvados (Apple and Calvados Ice). Your Parisian sommelier (wine steward) will be happy to suggest appropriate wines to accompany each course.

Levi Reiss
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-touring-paris-the-historic-eighteenth-arrondissement-719211.html