Residents in a charming Paris neighbourhood are at breaking point following an influx of tourists. Montmartre, which is famed for its amazing views over the French capital, attracts millions of people every year but its cobbled streets are now unable to cope with the huge crowds.
The area has become popular on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram, with influencers romanticising it as a place to visit. Tourists now outnumber residents 423 to one in Montmartre and locals are becoming increasingly frustrated. They said their home has been turned into an “amusement park”.
The iconic Sacré-Coeur, a white-domed basilica, is in the heart of the town. However, as reported by the Daily Mail, it attracted 11 million people last year which made it the most visited monument in France – ahead of the Eiffel Tower.
Michèle Barrière, who has lived in the area for 30 years, told the publication: “Enough is enough. Montmartre has become an amusement park, and we are the attractions. Soon they’ll be throwing us peanuts. It’s Disneyland.
“It has got totally out of hand. I have nothing against tourists per se, but now my prevailing feeling is one of hostility. Sometimes I can’t even reach my front door due to these hordes.”
Meanwhile, Eric Durand, another resident, said tourism has surged in the area after Covid-19 and Paris hosting the Olympic Games last summer. Others said Montmartre became popular among tourists after the 2001 cult movie Amelie before Netflix hit Emily in Paris brought a new wave of visitors.
The town featured in the road bike race at the Olympics and, for the first time ever, cyclists took a detour via Montmartre during the final stage of the Tour De France today (July 27).
Julien Ogeard, a manager of a Montmartre restaurant, told The Telegraph the area is “losing its soul”. He added that he is considering moving away and that he is “not the only one”.
Locals are also becoming annoyed at traffic restrictions, increasing house prices and tourist rentals. According to estate agents, between 20% and 30% of homes in the area are Airbnb listings.
Some residents have put signs in their windows over recent months to express their frustration. They include: “Forgotten residents,” “Let the Montmartrois live,” and “Behind these facades there are people.”