Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre: a wine tradition since 1934

It is easy to forget that the Butte was once covered in vines. First planted in the 12th century by the nuns of Montmartre Abbey, they spread over three quarters of the hill before disappearing in 1928. In 1933, to block a property development, local figures such as Pierre Labric, mayor of the Commune libre de Montmartre, persuaded the city of Paris to replant vines at the corner of rue des Saules and rue Saint-Vincent. The first celebration was held the following year, with French stars Mistinguett and Fernandel as patrons.

Since then, on the second weekend of October, Montmartre celebrates its grape harvest and its new vintage. The wine is bottled in the town hall cellars by the Comité des Fêtes et d'Actions Sociales du 18e, with proceeds from its sale going to local social causes. Extended to the whole district in 2008, this annual grape harvest festival is now the third most popular event in Paris in terms of attendance, and a real highlight of the autumn calendar.

The 2026 programme: five days to the rhythm of music

For this 93rd edition, the theme is "Le 18e donne le rythme", the 18th sets the rhythm. Music, with its power to bring people together, runs through a vibrant programme where culture and food meet: expect brass bands, choirs, musical shows, street activities and concerts.

On Wednesday 7 October, the launch evening takes place at the town hall, with free admission subject to capacity. The next day, schoolchildren take over Square Louise Michel for the great children's choir, before a 5 km (3 mile) night run through the district. All week, historian and official guide Jean-Manuel Gabert leads guided tours of the Clos Montmartre vineyard. Booking required: reserve online, as places are limited.

From Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, the Parcours du Goût taste trail sets up around the Sacré-Cœur. Producers and winemakers from across France, alongside local producers, offer their specialities to taste: this is the food highlight of the wine festival, and a showcase of French savoir-faire to share glass in hand. Arrive at opening time, 10 AM, to explore the stalls at a gentler pace. 

Ban des Vendanges and grand parade: Saturday's highlights

Saturday 10 October brings the most eagerly awaited rituals. At 9:45 AM, the Ban des Vendanges, the official grape cutting ceremony, opens the harvest in the Clos Montmartre. At 11:45 AM, the Grand Parade takes over: more than fifty brotherhoods from France and abroad, including a wine fraternity from the Loire Valley, folk dance groups, associations and residents, some 1,400 people in all. The procession heads down rue des Saules to the town hall via avenue Junot and rue Caulaincourt.

The start of the grape harvest festival parade draws dense crowds, so the recommended spots are along avenue Junot or rue Caulaincourt, and the route map is on the official website. From the hotel, simply pick a place near the town hall and watch the procession pass.

On Sunday 11 October, the non-proposal ceremony, a playful nod to Brassens, livens up place des Abbesses, before the closing dance in Square Louise Michel, beside place Saint-Pierre, in the late afternoon.

Église Saint-Jean, Sacré-Cœur and other unmissable sites

On place des Abbesses, the Église Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste-de-Montmartre is the first religious building constructed in reinforced concrete, between 1897 and 1904, by the architect Anatole de Baudot. A piece of architectural heritage listed on the national Additional Inventory of Historic Monuments since 1966, and an unusual church in Paris that most passers-by walk straight past without looking up. On Saturday 19 September 2026 from 3pm to 4:30pm, then on Sunday 20 from 3pm to 4pm, a guided tour covers its history, its architecture and its stained glass by Jac Galland, among the finest figurative windows of the early 20th century.

Free, no reservation, thirty visitors maximum. Follow it with the recital given on the church's grand Cavaillé-Coll organ, at 5pm on Saturday and 4:30pm on Sunday. Higher up the hill, the iconic Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur stays open from 6:30am to 10:30pm on both days, with free access. Do not miss the studio of the artist Endre Rozsda either, an exceptional opening for the whole weekend, or the guided walk at porte de la Chapelle around the ten gilded statues from the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.

Rooms at Hôtel Les Jardins de Montmartre

Thirty-eight air-conditioned rooms, renovated in 2021 and soundproofed, in five categories. The Single, about 140 sq ft, suits a visitor coming alone for the weekend. The Twin, around 160 sq ft, and the Double are made for pairs. The Superior, roughly 195 sq ft, gives you more space to spread out, while the Deluxe, at about 270 sq ft, adds a bathtub.

All have comfort bedding, a flat-screen television, a safe, a telephone, a hairdryer and free wifi. The decor follows the four seasons, echoing the eclectic character of the neighbourhood. After a day spent walking the cobbles of the Butte, the quiet of rue Ordener makes a real difference.

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Breakfast, concierge service and practical extras

Reception is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which counts when a tour finishes late or a slot opens up at the last minute. The buffet breakfast is served every morning from 7am to 10am, in a room whose decor recalls the lanes of Montmartre and its famous residents, from Dalí to Van Gogh by way of Renoir and Cézanne: pastries, fresh bread, pressed juice, cheeses, charcuterie, local specialities. Enough to keep you going until the 4pm talk.

Beyond that, the team works with Mon Petit Paris, an online concierge service for booking shows and skip-the-line tickets, and with Greeters, a partner association whose volunteers take five or six people at a time to explore their city. The Esprit Montmartre package adds two tickets for the little train around the Butte and a late departure until 2pm, useful at the end of a stay.

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