At the foot of Montmartre, before you mount the steps to climb to the big white church, is a former covered market called the Halle Saint Pierre. This building houses a museum, art gallery, auditorium, bookshop and cafe and specialises in fringe art (or art brut). This place is less than 20 minutes’ walk from my flat but shamefully I had never been in. I’ll be going back.
Banditi Dell Arte poster from http://www.hallesaintpierre.org/
Banditi dell’Arte is their current main exhibition, running until January 2013 – it features outsider Italian art from the likes of prisoners, inmates of psychiatric institutions plus there’s a section of contemporary folk art and includes paintings, sculptures, embroidered fabric and clothing and a dining room of all things …
They also hold musical concerts including jazz and piano, hold literary events and show films from time to time (see their website for details), and there’s a lovely quiet cafe that is especially welcome in such a busy tourist area.
Hey! magazine cover – trendsmagazineparis.com
The bookshop in the Halle Saint Pierre is a treasure trove of pop culture and art magazines, books for adults and children, and a wonderful graphic art mag called Hey!
So, next time you’re up at Montmartre, dodge the tourists and duck into the Halle St Pierre for a moment of calm and culture-spotting.
Halle Saint Pierre address etc
2, Rue Ronsard – 75018 Paris
M° : Anvers, Abbesses
Tél. : 33 (0) 1 42 58 72 89
Open from 10h to 18h
Saturday from 10h to 19h – Sunday from 11h à 18h
Website: http://www.hallesaintpierre.org/
Born in Belfast and now living in London, Julie McNamee is involved in internet marketing as a day job and blogging as a hobby. She’s interested in all things quirky and Fortean, as well as art, photography and theatre. Her blog Quirky Travel, specializes in London and Paris top tips and off the beaten path information with subjects such as London film locations and unusual Paris museums.
