The Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2022

What is the history of the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival?

This very popular Parisian event was first held in 1934 to celebrate Montmartre and its vineyards.

The vines of Montmartre

Historical sources attest to the presence of vines as early as 944 in Montmartre. In the 12th century, the ladies of the Abbey of Montmartre, founded by Adelaide of Savoy, planted vines and developed the production of wines on the hill themselves. The vines covered three quarters of the hill in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.

In 1860, Montmartre was annexed to Paris. It was planned to build buildings there in 1930. Part of the vineyards were replaced by housing before disappearing completely in 1928.

In 1933, thanks to the mobilisation of the inhabitants and illustrious figures of the district (Pierre Labric, Mayor of the Free Commune, Jean-Louis Forain, Francisque Poulbot and Adolphe Willette, founders of the Republic of Montmartre, and Victor Perrot, President of the Society of History and Archaeology "Le Vieux Montmartre"), the Montmartre vineyard was brought back to life with the planting of more than 2,000 Gamay and Pinot Noir vines from the Thomery estate, near Fontainebleau.

The Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival

The following year, in 1934, the Fête des vendanges de Montmartre celebrated the vines and the Montmartre region, under the patronage of Mistinguett and Fernandel. From then on, the event took place every year on the second weekend in October.

From 2008 onwards, the Paris City Council extended the festival to the eight districts of the 18th arrondissement in order to promote the dynamism of the arrondissement. Thus, many actors are mobilised: municipal staff, cultural structures, schools, leisure centres, associations, shopkeepers and craftsmen...

In 2012, the inhabitants of the 18th arrondissement became more involved in the event and became actors of the festival. Nowadays, the Festival is supported by the inhabitants, structures, places and shops of all the districts.

Today, the Festival is the third most frequented Parisian event after Paris-Plage and the Nuit Blanche.

What is the theme of the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2022?

This year, the Grape Harvest Festival in Montmartre celebrates equality. Equality, a fundamental value of the French Republic, is the absence of any discrimination between human beings. Everyone has the right to be different and to live together in a mixed and intermingled environment, without discrimination based on gender, age, colour, origin, appearance, social class or culture.

The Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival allows the eight districts of the 18th arrondissement to unite and celebrate equality in all its forms. For this 89th edition, the participants give their vision of what equality means through some twenty artistic, cultural, gourmet, sporting and participative proposals.

What is the programme of the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2022?

The Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival is celebrated in more than 50 places in the 18th arrondissement. Numerous activities and events are proposed. You can find the full programme on the official website of the event. Highlights of the festival include the launch party, the vineyard tour, the taste trail, the Décibels Vendanges music festival, the Grand Parade and the Bar Bariolé.

The launch evening

On 5 October at 7pm at the town hall of the 18th arrondissement, the mayor Éric Lejoindre inaugurates the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival and presents the programme for this 89th edition.

Vineyard tours

Take part in an original visit to the Clos Montmartre vineyards and discover this unusual place in the capital. Historian and lecturer Jean-Manuel Gabert will take you through the history of this protected heritage, a guarantee of the future. The vineyards are open to all during the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival.

The Taste Trail

At the foot of the Sacré-Coeur basilica, browse the 1,138 m² of stands set up for the Taste Trail. A hundred or so producers and winegrowers will help you discover their know-how and the products of their region: wine and food.

Décibels Vendanges

Décibels Vendanges is a music festival that fairly represents the diversity of musical styles through an eclectic and unifying programme. This year, for the 5th edition of the festival, twenty artists from the emerging music scene offer concerts over 4 days in 3 venues in the 18th arrondissement: the Hasard Ludique, Madame Arthur and the Auberge de jeunesse Yves Robert.

The Grand Défilé

Come and watch the Grand Défilé on 8 October between 11:45 and 13:30. The route starts at the Clos-Montmartre vineyards and ends at the 18th arrondissement town hall. About forty wine and gastronomic brotherhoods from France, Germany, Belgium and Italy will parade through the streets of Montmartre.

Colourful ball

To close the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival, the traditional colourful ball will take place on 9 October at 4.30 pm. For the occasion, DJ Thierry Lecamp has concocted a playlist celebrating equality and the right to be different.

To continue your visit to Montmartre, discover the must-see walks in the district. You will be able to enjoy magnificent views of the capital.