This street was jammed with people, much more than ever before, and I have been here many times. So crowded that it was hard to walk down. It is pretty, but now way too crowded.

Most visitors to Paris will find their way to Montmartre, and most will walk this neighbourhood’s busiest street, the lively cobbled stretch that is Rue Norvins. It dates back to 1672, though the original street had two names: Rue Traînée, between Rue du Mont-Cenis and Rue des Saules, and Rue des Moulins between Rue des Saules and Rue Girardon. It assumed the name of Rue Norvins in 1868. Montmartre has a myriad of historic pathways and streets; Rue Norvins is one of the best preserved streets from the neighbourhood’s village past. And no doubt it was frequently trodden by the many famous artists of the past who called Montmartre their home. Today it is Montmartre’s most-visited street, running from the exclusive Avenue Junot to the bustling Place du Tertre. To really appreciate it, you need to look beyond the crowds and the tat which envelop the street and blur its historic beauty. The street is home to a myriad of restaurants, and dozens of souvenir stores selling all manner of rubbish from Eiffel Tower key rings, cheap ‘I love Paris’ T-shirts, and poor quality prints of everything to do with Paris. It can be a bit overwhelming, especially with the crowds which inevitably descent here, but look past them towards the historic architecture, the views, and the domes of the basilica rising above it all. It’s these thing which, to me, make Rue Norvins special. Place du Tertre at its eastern end is best appreciated on a fine day, when it bustles with artists at work, paining or drawing and selling their wares. Enjoy it with a coffee or drink at one of the numerous restaurants which face the little square, though expect to pay a premium for the privilege and don’t expect Paris’s finest offerings. I’ve eaten at a few restaurants around the square; choose wisely! Interestingly enough, dating to 1133, the Benedictines of Montmartre administered justice in the gallows at Place du Tertre. But fear not. The last public hanging took place in 1775. At the western end, most visitors leave the street at the landmark restaurant Le Consulat. But do continue on as you’ll spot the site of Montmartre’s first water supply, the Fontaine du Château d’eau de Montmartre. It was established in 1835, though the Neo-renassiance reservoir fountain has been out of service since 1927. A little further down and just off Rue Norvins you will come across Place Marcel Aymé. Here you will find the curious statue of Dutilleul, the man who possessed super powers in Marcel Aymé's book ‘Le Passe-Muraille’ - the ‘Passer Through Walls’. By all means visit this historic street, but look beyond the tourist crows and paraphernalia and you will be rewarded.