The Sacred Heart - Le Sacré-Coeur

Basilica du Sacré Coeur, Montmartre

Perched 130 meters at the top of Montmartre, you can't miss the Basilica du Sacré Coeur at Montmartre. Just look up and you'll see it... an impressive and diverse structure.
Impressive indeed. Designed in the Roman-Byzantine style and pure white, this structure clearly contrasts with other religious buildings in the capital.

The Basilica du Sacré Coeur also challenges the laws of physics due to its colossal foundations. To build the Basilica, it was necessary to construct very deep bases, 83 wells 38 meters underground to ensure the building was solid! What makes some people say that this basilica supports the hill, filled with limestone and gypsum, known for being weak.

The contrast? It originated in the location of the monument in the heart of Paris...

The famous Montmartre district, a place of pleasures, sparkles at the foot of this unique sacred place, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over France and around the world every year.

Geographical paradox

The Basilica du Sacré Coeur is definitely a visual treat for the eyes. The unspoiled white colour of the building is just one of its many charms. Since 1914, despite the pollution and the test of time, the building is still pristine.

The secret? Stones used for construction secrete a white substance (cullet), which makes the building beautiful and white when it rains.

Another paradox: compared to other religious buildings in Paris, which mostly date back to the Renaissance, the Sacred Coeur only dates back a century. Nevertheless, it is the most visited religious monument in Paris after Notre Dame Cathedral.

Decor and height

Inside the Sacred Heart, the decor will leave you speechless. A gigantic mosaic, a large Cavaillé-Coll organ, as well as treasures (in one of the crypts) will all satisfy your curiosity.

You want to go even higher? Go up the dome, which rises 83m high with stunning views of Paris. Magical, giant, sprawling, the French capital spreads out magnificently in front of your eyes. You are at the highest point in Paris after ... the Eiffel Tower.

Take a look above your head ... that's not the only surprise in store: the bell tower defies gravity and contains the most famous bell in France: "La Savoyarde" a work of 19 tonnes given by the four dioceses of Savoie.


Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris