Montmartre festif ou l’écho du passé

Abstract

The continuity of Montmartre’s bohemian past is surprising. Parisians, provincials and foreigners all flocked to the Montmartre hilltop, and still do, to ‘party,’ to have fun, to dance, to sing, to ‘slum it’... Therefore, this area is thought of, promoted and experienced as historically having a party atmosphere. It is the place where the entertainment establishments (Moulin Rouge, Au Lapin Agile, Trianon, Élysée-Montmartre) come to life in the evening with their icons, such as Michou. With regard to Paris, the benefits of being alongside one another often still combine with the assertion of autonomy. The experiences and the fantasies of the contemporary Montmartre party have their origins rooted in the past, but they can equally maintain a link with either ‘authentic’ tradition or they can reinterpret history. Therefore, this article shows how actors have come to compromise with the legacy of the party atmosphere and seek to continue the tangible, as well as the intangible, heritage that contributes to the visibility of Montmartre.

Keywords

• Montmartre
• feast
• history
• tradition
• reinvention