Basilique Sacré-Coeur, Paris
The Sacré-Coeur seen from the Arc de Triomphe. Photo: Ramón Durán.
Photo by Dennis S. Hurd.
The Sacre-Coeur and a carousel on Montmartre. Photo by Stephan.
Photo © Nick Leonard.
Closer look at the exterior. Photo by Grzegorz Stanecki.
The Sacre-Coeur by night. Photo by Pierre Metivier.
Detail of exterior. Photo by Thérèse-Marie.
The Basilique Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a Roman Catholic church and familiar landmark on Montmarte, Paris.
The site of the 19th-century basilica is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city's patron, Saint Denis, in the 3rd century. According to legend, after he was martyred, the bishop Denis picked up his severed head and carried it several miles to the north where the city of Saint Denis stands today.
After France's 1870 defeat by the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War and its aftermath, the Commune of 1871, the basilica was planned as a guilt offering and a vote of confidence to cure France's misfortunes.
The Basilique Sacré-Coeur was designed by the architect Paul Abadie in a Romanesque-Byzantine architectural style. Its foundation stone was laid in 1875. The basilica was not completed until 1914 and not officially opened for worship until 1919, after the end of the First World War. This was seen ironically by many French people as revenge for Prussia's defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War.
What to See
The basilica was paid for by national subscription, and its iconography is distinctly nationalistic. The Sacré-Coeur has much in common, both historically and architecturally, with the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviere in Lyon.
The triple-arched portico is surmounted by two bronze equestrian statues of France's national saints, Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX. Even the great bell, the Savoyarde, has a nationalist program, with Savoy having been attached to France as recently as 1860. Cast in Annecy in 1895, it is one of the world's heaviest bells, at 19 tons.
The Sacré-Cœur is built of Château-Landon (Seine-et-Marne) stone, a frost-resistant travertine that constantly weathers out its calcite, so that it bleaches with age to a chalky whiteness.
Golden mosaics glow in the dim, echoing interior of the Sacré-Coeur. A climb to the top of the dome gives a great view of Paris, and the walk around the inside of the dome is worth the climb in itself. The mosaic of Christ in Majesty in the apse is one of the world's largest and there is a striking mural of Christ's Passion at the back of the altar. At the rear of the grounds is a contemplative garden and water feature.
Since 1885, the Blessed Sacrament has been continually on display in a monstrance above the high altar. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has continued uninterrupted in the Basilica since 1885. The crypt contains a relic that some believe to be Christ's Sacred Heart, which gives the basilica its name.
Quick Facts
| Address: | Pl. du Parvis-du-Sacré-Coeur, 18e, Paris, France |
| Phone: | 01-53-41-89-00 |
| Website: | http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Sacre.Coeur |
| Métro: | Anvers or Abbesses. If you don't want to hike up the hill, you can take a funicular from the Abbesses station for the price of a Métro ticket. |
| Bus: | 30, 54, 80, 85, Montmartrobus |
| Hours: | Basilica open daily 6am-11pm; dome and crypt daily 9am-6pm |
| Cost: | Free admission; dome £4.50. |
Travel Resources
- The Paris Pass - gets you discounts on attractions and the ability to skip the lines at museums
- Paris Metro (Subway) Map - official website of RATP
- Map of Paris Hotels - interactive map from TripAdvisor
- Paris Hostels & Budget Hotels - budget lodging with no booking fees
- Paris Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Paris Tours and Excursions - book a guided tour or day trip
- Car Rentals in Paris - low prices on a large fleet from AutoEurope
- Paris Travel Forum - get tips, advice, answers
- France Rail Map - plan your train journeys online
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Sacré-Coeur. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Paris Map or get our free Google Earth download.
More Information
- Sacre-Coeur - official site
- Sacre-Coeur - TripAdvisor traveler reviews
- Sacre-Coeur - Fodors.com
- Basilique du Sacré-Coeur - Frommer's
- Sacré-Coeur - Economist.com
- Sacré Coeur - A View On Cities
- Basilique du Sacré Coeur - AAA
- Paris Hotels - HotelTravel.com
