“Meet me at Place Jean-Baptiste-Clément,” a voice whispered through the bustling streets of Montmartre. Now, here at Place Jean-Baptiste-Clément, imagine a time before the familiar sights. This space we stand on was once a tangle of smaller streets, remnants of a bygone era. In 1905, this little plaza emerged, christened in honor of Jean Baptiste Clément. This wasn’t just any man. He penned the poignant ballad, “Le Temps des Cerises,” a song forever entwined with the tumultuous Paris Commune of 1871. But the Place holds more secrets. Picture a towering beacon, the Tour Montmartre, rising 40 meters high. For a mere 20 centimes, brave souls climbed 172 stairs to its peak. There, they found a cafe, aptly named “Au plus beau point de vue du monde” – “The most beautiful view in the world.” Sadly, the tower is gone now, lost to the relentless march of time. Yet, Place Jean-Baptiste-Clément, still thrums with the echoes of its past, a silent testament to the enduring spirit of Montmartre.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.