The museum opened in 1960 in the Maison du Bel Air, a charming 17th-century house surrounded by gardens. Over the years, it became a gathering place for many of the artists who helped shape the identity of Montmartre. Figures such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Émile Bernard, Raoul Dufy, Charles Camoin, Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo all spent time here.

The permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the history of Montmartre. It traces the district’s transformation from a rural hillside of vineyards and windmills into part of the expanding city of Paris during the 19th century. For artists, this change was both a blessing and a challenge. New cafés, bars and cabarets brought fresh opportunities and creative energy, but urban development also gradually replaced the natural landscapes that had once defined the area.

To this day, Montmartre remains closely associated with the spirit of the Bohemian era – a world of artists, absinthe, lively cafés and legendary venues such as the Moulin Rouge. It is this unique atmosphere that the museum seeks to preserve and bring to life for its visitors.