Perched on the top of Montmartre, at the highest point in Paris, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic church dedicated, as its name suggests, to the Heart of Jesus. This is one of the French capital’s most emblematic monuments, attracting millions of visitors every year. Its distinctive architecture, its fascinating history and its superb views over Paris make Sacré Coeur an attraction not to be missed.
The basilica appears to visitors as an enormous mass of white. Financed by a national subscription, its construction started in 1887 but was not completed until 1914. This great stone edifice, built in a hybrid Romanesque-Byzantine style, forms an essential element of the profile of Paris. It is the masterpiece of the architect Abadie, who took his inspiration from the Romanesque Cathedral of Périgueux.
- The history of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
- What to see inside the basilica
- The dome and its panoramic views
- Sacred Heart Basilica, Paris: opening times, admission, time for the visit…
- What is there to see nearby: Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge…
The history of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Also known as the Basilica of the National Vow, Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre is located in the eighteenth district of Paris. Its construction was approved by the French National Assembly in 1873 as a religious edifice in honour of the many French citizens who had lost their lives during the Franco-Prussian war. So that the basilica could be built, the Solferino tower had to be demolished. Paul Abadie won the competition to design the basilica and, at the suggestion of Hubert Rohault de Fleury, it was funded by a ‘subscription for stones’, whereby people were invited to donate the cost of a stone, a column or a chapel, on which would be engraved the name, initials or shield of the donors.
The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre was built with white Chateau-Landon stone, which has the ability to renew its whiteness in the rain — the reason why the church has not needed to be cleaned since its construction was completed in 1914.
Its location, its height (130 metres), and its dome measuring no less than 83 metres ensures that its profile can be seen from many places, even at some distance from Paris. It is visited by 11 million people every year, and it is the second most popular religious monument, after the Cathedral of Notre-Dame.
What to see inside the basilica
To reach the interior of the basilica of Sacré Coeur, you have to climb a grand staircase and enter through a portico of three arcades, embellished with equestrian statues of Saint Louis (King of France) and Joan of Arc, both the work of the artist Hippolyte Lefevre (1924). Once inside the basilica, we can admire the enormous number of mosaics, marbles, statues and stained-glass windows that have reshaped the original structure of the church. In addition, there is a huge crypt underground.
The dome and its panoramic views
It is worth climbing the 280 steps to reach the great dome of the Basilica of Sacré Coeur. There you will be rewarded with an extraordinary 360-degree panoramic view of the city of Paris. On a clear day, you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Montparnasse Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral from here. To go up to the dome, you have to pay a general charge of 8 euros (5 euros for children). It is open every day, but opening times vary depending on the time of year. Please be aware that there is no lift, so you have to climb the narrow stairway of 280 steps on foot. The dome is open to the public from May to September, from 8.30 a.m. until 8.00 p.m. From October to April, it is open from 9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
Sacré Coeur’s bell tower has one of the country’s largest bells, the ‘Savoyarde’, weighing 19 tonnes.
Sacred Heart Basilica, Paris: opening times, admission, time for the visit…
Located at no. 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre in the district of Montmartre, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur is open to the public every day of the year, without exception, from 6.30 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. Admission is free. Mass is celebrated at least four times every day in the basilica, and the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart Paris recite the Divine Office here from Tuesday to Sunday. There is always a Benedictine sister (or a volunteer) at the basilica’s entrance to deal with queries from visitors. Out of respect for the prayer areas, taking photographs is prohibited. How long you need to enjoy the basilica depends on whether or not you go up to the dome. You can tour the inside of the church in slightly under an hour.
What is there to see nearby: Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge…
In the vicinity of the basilica of Sacré Coeur, there are lots of tourist attractions worth visiting. There is, for example, the district of Montmartre, the Place du Tertre, and the famous Moulin Rouge. Montmartre is Paris’s most bohemian district, and it is worth exploring the area, wandering its narrow streets, enjoying the views, and going for a coffee in one of its charming establishments. You should stop in the Place du Tertre, or Place de les Artistes, to see its stalls with outdoor artists. This is one of Montmartre’s most remarkable spots, and one of its great attractions. It should be remembered that this district was home to painters who later became famous, such as Pablo Picasso and, much earlier, Vincent van Gogh. And at the foot of the hill of Montmartre, on Boulevard Clichy, you will find the famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge, founded in 1889 by the Spaniard Josep Oller and the Frenchman Charles Zidler, who were already the owners of the Paris Olympia.
