Paris Under Siege: Montmartre Locals Fight Back Against Overtourism Crisis
Montmartre residents protest overtourism as Paris faces growing challenges balancing tourists and locals.
Montmartre, once a charming, village-like enclave in the heart of Paris, is grappling with an overwhelming influx of tourists, prompting a fierce backlash from residents. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, France’s most visited monument in 2024 with 11 million visitors, has turned the surrounding neighborhood into what locals describe as an “open-air theme park.”
Long-time resident Olivier Baroin, 56, a member of the Vivre à Montmartre protest group, has listed his apartment for sale, citing the loss of local shops and pedestrian-only streets that exacerbate accessibility issues for people with disabilities. “I had no other choice but to leave,” Baroin told The Associated Press, highlighting the daily challenges of navigating a tourist-saturated area.
The transformation of Montmartre reflects a broader European crisis, with cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam struggling to manage surging tourist numbers. In Montmartre, banners proclaim “Behind the postcard: locals mistreated by the Mayor” and “Montmartre residents resisting,” signaling deep frustration with the city’s policies.
Essential local businesses, such as butchers and bakeries, have been replaced by ice-cream stalls, bubble-tea vendors, and souvenir shops, eroding the neighborhood’s bohemian character. The Louvre, too, faced a staff strike in June 2024 over overcrowding, with 8.7 million visitors straining its infrastructure. Paris, with just over 2 million residents, welcomed 48.7 million tourists in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year, intensifying pressure on historic districts.
While tourists like American visitor Adam Davidson describe Paris as “full of life,” locals warn of “zombie cities”—picturesque but hollowed-out areas where residents are displaced by short-term rentals and tourist-driven commerce. Paris authorities are cracking down on unlicensed rentals, but with global tourism projected to grow alongside a rising middle class and low-cost travel, the challenge persists.
Urban planners and residents, including Béatrice Dunner of the Association for the Defence of Montmartre, advocate for higher tourist taxes and stricter regulations, drawing inspiration from measures in Barcelona and Venice. As Montmartre’s soul fades under the weight of overtourism, the fight for balance between visitors and residents grows urgent.
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