Montmartre, once a charming Parisian village, is losing its soul to overtourism, according to long-time resident Olivier Baroin, who is now selling his home in protest. When Baroin moved into his Montmartre apartment some 15 years ago, he cherished its village-like feel in the heart of Paris. Today, that sentiment has vanished.
He laments the disappearance of local shops and the friendly atmosphere, replaced by "hordes of people shooting selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow cobbled streets" as overtourism takes its toll. The final straw came as local streets were designated pedestrian-only to accommodate the ever-increasing visitor numbers, prompting Baroin to put his apartment up for sale.
