Set in Paris' trendy Montmartre district, the Grape Harvest Festival (Fête des Vendanges) is an annual festival celebrating France's greatest export: wine. Fortunately, I arrived in the city just in time to experience this fantastic event!
Of course, when one is in France, you can't drink wine without eating cheese! With dozens of vendors lining the hilly streets of Montmartre, there was plenty of food to choose from. And cheese? Wheels and wheels of delicious varieties were on hand for the choice of one's desire.
I, and my friends, decided to purchase a charcuterie board of fine cheese and meats to accompany our vino.
We chose the first of several glasses of select wines and then selected several kinds of cheese and meat for our charcuterie board. With much to carry, we made our way over to the broad steps of the Sacré-Cœur to rest and enjoy these delights.
Built with travertine stone quarried in Château-Landon, the Sacré-Cœur is a Parisian icon, looming over the city from the heights of Montmartre.
Hundreds of people here for the festival, perched on the steps leading up to the white, stone basilica.
And the view from these steps, out over Paris, was simply amazing!
With all of the wine, food, and cheer on this cloudless, autumn day in Paris, it was impossible not to revel in this lovely festival. The populace was simply sparkling in the October sunlight; smiles and good cheer all around.
Thousands of Parisians crowded the narrow streets of Montmartre. The Grape Harvest Festival in Montmartre, France (Fête des Vendanges) is an annual festival dating back to 1934. Celebrating the Clos Montmartre, Montmartre's sole remaining vineyard.
This was such a wonderful event, and the weather was absolutely perfect! Glasses could be purchased at a variety of vendor's booths, or to save a Euro, or two, plastic cups were provided with the samples.
If you find yourself in Paris in early October, I strongly recommend attending this event.
Cheers!
