This is a must-see stop for many visitors passing through the Montmartre district. Every day, the famous funicular in Paris’s 18th arrondissement speeds travelers up 36 meters of elevation to reach the summit of Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in under a minute and a half.
Unfortunately, on this April 23, 2026, tourists will not be able to board and will have no choice but to take the 222 steps of the Rue Foyatier stairway that runs alongside the funicular. The reason? Maintenance work causing an operational interruption on the entire funicular this Thursday until 4 p.m. This is stated by the RATP on its website.
It’s fair to say that the Montmartre funicular, as we know it today, isn’t exactly a new creation. It was transformed in 1991. Since that year, the funicular has operated as a pair of inclined elevators. At 108 meters long, it is run by the RATP. And like any other public transport, the Montmartre funicular must occasionally undergo maintenance to ensure passenger safety.
Modernisation work was also carried out between 2017 and 2019. In June 2025, the funicular was out of service as well. More recently, one of the two cabins was taken out of service for a two-month period. As of April 23, traffic is simply halted across the entire funicular. To reach the Sacré-Cœur, you must either climb the 222 steps or wait until 4 p.m., the announced restart time for service.
Official website
www.ratp.fr
