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This basilica sits on hill that can be viewed most of Paris’ other monuments. It’s very Byzantine (although referred to as Neo-Romanesque) in style with its elongated white domes. The white stone called Chateau-Landon whitens with age, thus making it more beautiful as time goes on. If you look at my Intro picture, taken from the top of Notre Dame, you can see the Basilica dazzling white on the distant hill of Montmartre. It has a 19-ton bell that can be heard for some distance. The statues you see on it’s facade are the bronze equestrian statues of St. Joan of Arc and St. Louis with a statue of Christ with his hands raised in blessing. The interior is beautifully decorated with mosaics and a lovely figure of the Virgin and Child. It’s built on the site where Saint Denis was beheaded in the 3rd. Century. Like many of the other Christian sites, druids worshiped on this very spot and a site for early Christian churches. The St. Pierre de Montmartre, a 6th century Parisian church, still sits next to the Basilica. The Sacre Coeur was started in 1875, but wasn’t consecrated until after WWI in 1914.The Basilica is an important place for pilgrimages and welcomed by the Benedictine nuns of the Sacred Heart.
Although the Sacre Coeur isn’t considered architecturally beautiful, it’s a very imposing and important landmark of Paris.
Metro line 2 or 12 : Abbesses (then
take hill tram), Anvers (then take hill tram), Barbes-Rochechouart, Chateau-Rouge, Lamarck-Caulaincourt.
Bus: 30, 31, 80, 85 and Montmartrobus
(from Métro Jules Joffrin or Pigalle)
Opening hours
Basilica open from 6am to 11pm
Dôme : open from 9ham to 5h30pm (7pm in summer)
Fees
Free for the basilica.
Dome: 5 euros
Crypt: Free Leave a Comment
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With its 130 meters, the Butte Montmartre, crowned by the Sacre Coeur, is the highest Paris' "summit".
There are two different stories about the name "Montmatre" origin : the official one beeing 'Mont de Mercure', but, a 13th century legend states that it comes from 'Mont des Martyrs' and refers to those, who, with Saint Denis (the first Paris' bishop), were killed here for their faith in the 3th century.
From the 12th century to the Revoution (1789) Montmartre housed an important and powerfull benedictine Abbaye.
In 1790, Montmartre was divided in two (uphill and downhill). While the downhill part was quite imediately re-included in Paris, the uphill one grew as a prosperous village until the 19th century and kept some independance, even after being attached to Paris in 1860 (and took an important part in the 'Commune' revolution in 1871).
This independant status appealed to artists, especially painters (like Vernet, Géricault, Corot, Pissarro, Renoir, Van Gogh, Utrillo, Picasso, ....) who moved to the Butte Montmartre during all the 19th century and the begining of the 20th.
Since then, if the area has lost its favour among the artists (in the 50's to Saint Germain des Pres (wich has now become a strictly touristy place too)) it has earned a lot among the tourists, especially after the film 'Amelie' (french title : Le fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain) came out.
It's a working class, cosmopolitan, colourfull, ever crowded and lively area dominated by 'artists' (and souvenir shops) place du Tertre, cafes everywhere, and fabric and (cheap) clothes stores. Leave a Comment
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This substantial church is visible from most of Paris, gleaming white in sunlight. It is very much a matter of personal taste how you feel about its appearance, its beauty or lack thereof has been a matter of debate since it was built on the former site of the artillery batteries of Montmartre. See also my tip on the historic marker. To quote Wikipedia, it also …. was controversial in that it was built “to expiate the crimes of the Communards,” as some people at the time put it. It was also seen as a memorial to the many French citizens who lost their lives in the Paris Commune and the Franco-Prussian War.
Whatever its history or what you feel about its beauty, there is no argument that it is a spectacular sight and that the views from here are excellent. A visit ties in well with a walk through Montmartre.
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The author of numerous important plays, Alexandre Dumas fils was the illegitimate child of Marie-Catherine Labay, a dressmaker, and Alexandre Dumas, the author of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
The writer was legally recognized by his father in 1831 and moved to live with him.
Among his important novels, we can count La dame aux camelias (The Lady of the Camellias), inpired by a young courtesan met while living in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Alexandre Dumas fils died at Marly-le-Roi in 1895 and was buried in Cimetiere de Montmartre.
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You see Sacre Coeur perched on its hill from nearly every vantage point in Paris so at some point, you just have to see what it's all about.
Take the Metro to the Anvers station and exit. After you exit the Metro, look around and find the street with the very unlikely name of rue de Steinkerque. Walk up the hill on Steinkerque to Place St. Pierre where you are likely to find a carousel set up for the children.
Looming above you is the snow-white Basilique Sacre Coeur. You may walk up the steps with lots of company or use your Metro tickets (or Pass) to take the funicular to the top. The views of Paris from the top are nothing short of spectacular and it's worth the trip just for that if the day is reasonably clear.
You can visit the basilique. There is no photography allowed inside which is just as well since it is quite dark (and gloomy) inside.
Leave Sacre Coeur and walk over to Place de Tertre where the action is. There is the lovely little church of St. Pierre that is definitely worth a visit, if only to admire the magnificent carved doors. This is a Paris treasure not many visit and it is truly lovely
The Place du Tertre is where the artists exhibit and try to draw your caricature or paint your portrait. It will be crowded and busy. If you want a fun souvenir, have your picture drawn or pick up an inexpensive oil painting from the many. It's more fun than a post card even if it isn't great art. Occasionally you will see a quite nice oil and if it reminds you of your trip to Paris, it is your investment in memory if not a museum piece.
There are many cafes in the area and if you walk a block or two the prices will go down dramatically. There is also a little tourist train that takes you around Montmartre that leaves from the Place de Tertre. It's a fun way to get the lay of the land and rest your weary feet. Leave a Comment Address: Place du Parvis du Sacre CoeurPhone: 01-53-41-89-00Directions: Anvers Metro stop and up rue de SteinkerqueWebsite: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/ Other Contact: FAX: 01-53-41-89-10
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Due to its location, atop Montmartre, the beautiful white silhouette of the church can be seen from almost all the places in Paris and is also offering a magnificent view over the town.
The building of the Romano-Byzantine church lasted 38 years and was consecrated to the Sacred Heart in 1919.
Sacre-Coeur is 100m long and 50m wide, while the dome is 83m high.
The interior of the church is decorated with marble sculptures, stained glass windows and mosaics (contains one of the world's largest mosaics depicting Christ with outstretched arms).
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Sacre Coeur for me is the most beautiful church in Paris. It is a very large white building with several domes of various sizes, and is built high on a hill making it visible from large parts of Paris.
The church itself came into being after the Prussina War in 1870. Two Catholic businessmen (who must have been loaded) made a pledge to build a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Christ (Sacre Coeur means Sacred Heart), should France be saved from the Prussian onslaught. Well I hate to spoil the anticipation, but yes of course France was spared. Work started in 1875, and was completed in 1914, but World War I and the German invasion of Paris meant that the church was consecrated until 1919.
If you arrive at the bottom of the hill, beware, there are a lot of steps to get to the top! There is a Funiculaire up the hill however, which can be taken from abbesses metro station. Leave a Comment Address: 35 Rue de Chevalier 75018Directions: Abbesses metro station. Then Funiculaire up the hill, or take the steps! it's better pictures up the steps...Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/
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Located on the left side of Sacre Coeur, the small church of Saint Peter is one of the oldest in Paris, dating from 1134.
At the entrance the three bronze doors are presenting St Denis, St Peter and the Virgin Mary, while the old style interior was decorated with modern stained glass windows dating from 1953.
I liked very much the Way of Cross made by the Italian sculptor Gismondi. Address: 2 rue du Mont-CenisDirections: Left side of Sacre-Coeur. M: Abbesses (line 12)
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this imposing basilica was built in response to the franco-prussian war of 1870. located on the montmartre it offers a superb view of the city. work on the basilica began in 1875 and it was completed in 1914. ironically it was not consecrated until 1919 due to the german invasion of WWI. some important works of art in the basilica are "the great mosaic of christ", "the virgin mary and child", and "the statue of christ" above the main entrance. to visit the basilica take the metro to the abbesses station then take the funiculaire to the steps of sacre-coeur. when visiting the basilica the montmarte area is worth exploring on foot.
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Sacre-Coeur is one of the premiere landmarks in Paris and unlike the Eiffel Tower which cannot really be seen east of the Marais (except from the Buttes Chaumont), this monument can be seen from all areas of Paris! She looks down on us from her lofty perch on top of Montmartre smiling down upon the city looking like a wedding cake or a sculpted cloud. Built in 1873 (consecrated in 1919) to make amends for the massacre during the Commune uprising, she was built in the Neo-Byzantine & neo-Romanesque styles by architect Paul Abadie.
My second trip we went inside to see the interior which was very light & airy in construct & mood with beautiful gold mosaics. One may climb to the top of the dome to obtain an exemplary view of Paris below!
Easiest & most scenic route:
Go past the Place des Abbesses (do you recognize this from the movie French Kiss?), walk east along rue la Vieuville, up the stairs of rue Drevet, up the stairs of rue du Calvaire. You'll come up the small square of Place du Calvaire which then becomes Place du Tertre. Go south a few feet on rue St-Eleuthere & then left or east on rue Azais.
Alternatively, you can take the Metro to Anvers station and trudge north on rue de Steinkerque, which is lined with souvenir shops & very crowded, up to Place St-Pierre. Then either walk up the stairs or take the funiculaire (price of one Metro ticket) to the basilique. Do yourself the huge favor of NOT EATING at Cafe le Ronsard, but this would be a nice place to stop for a drink with a view of the Carrousel.
Photos: Februay 2006 & November 2007 Leave a Comment
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