Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur is a Catholic church and one of the most sought-after sights in modern Paris. The majestic white limestone structure sits at the very top of the Montmartre hill, becoming the visiting card of the neighborhood. The name of the cathedral in translation from French means “Sacred Heart”. Every day on the steps of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur climb thousands of pilgrims and tourists who come to worship the Christian shrines, listen to Mass or admire the interior of the church.

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History of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur

Unlike the Parisian legend that is Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica Sacré-Coeur does not boast a rich historical past. The idea of building a new cathedral emerged in 1871. The basilica was proposed to be erected in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian conflict. The defeat in this war was a complete surprise, which strongly hit the national consciousness of the French. The general grief was actively “fueled” and the Bishop of Nantes, Felix Fournier, who declared the incident a punishment of God, sent down to his people for a century of moral decay. Atone for such sins, according to the clergy, could only be the only way: the construction of a new temple. The project Basilica Sacré-Coeur was sharply criticized both in the people and in government circles, as a result of which construction had to be postponed for several years. Money for the basilica was collected by public subscription, and the first stone in the foundation of the future cathedral was laid only on June 16, 1875.

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In total, the construction of the temple took about 40 years. The construction was significantly hampered by fortification works. Abandoned quarries, located under the base of the basilica Sacré-Coeur, constantly threatened to collapse, so as a support system for the foundation had to use piles. Completely completed only by 1914.

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It is possible that over time the parishioners’ interest in Sacré-Coeur may have waned a little, making the basilica an ordinary church: beautiful, but lacking its own character. Thanks to Paul Abadie’s innovative solution, this did not happen. The talented architect chose white sandstone for the construction of the temple, which had one interesting feature: in contact with water, the stone became unusually white and transparent. This not only gave the construction additional originality, but also made it really noticeable. Both in sunny and rainy weather, the snow-white walls and domes of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur are visible from any corner of Paris.

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Facts about the history of construction

  • A total of 46 million francs were raised for the construction of the Sacré-Coeur church. A quarter of these funds were voluntary donations from the faithful.
  • Each sponsor, whose contribution amounted to more than a thousand francs, received the right to immortalize his family name or family crest on the exterior masonry walls.
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  • Although the church and interior decoration were completed in 1914, the cathedral building remained unconsecrated for two whole years.
    • Paul Abadie did not have the right to have his family name or coat of arms immortalized on the outside of the walls.
  • Paul Abadie did not live to see the completion of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, and the final stage of the work was carried out by another architect.
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Architecture

If you look at the Sacré-Coeur Cathedral from a bird’s eye view, you will notice that the church has the outline of a Greek cross. The four domes crowning the church echo the silhouette of the basilica in Périgueux. The largest and tallest dome is the central dome, its height is 83 m. A spiral staircase consisting of 300 steps leads inside this gigantic element.

In its time, the architecture of the Sacré-Coeur caused much controversy and criticism. Atypical for Paris, the construction at first gave the impression of something alien, not fitting into the overall urban picture. Even experts plunged into speculation, to what specific style to attribute this project. Given that the design of the building mixed elements of Byzantine, Greek and partly Romanesque trends, it was not easy to do it.

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Facade of the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur

The facade of the building is not oversaturated with decorative elements. Although it is not without the typical for Catholic cathedral sculptures. Figures decorating the exterior of the basilica Sacré-Coeur, can be conditionally divided into two types: biblical characters and symbolic bas-reliefs.

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Somewhat away from the main entrance is the statue of the Archangel Michael. The sculpture is located on a pedestal, on top of which stands an angel clad in armor, trampling a serpent. The latter, thanks to the original imagination of the sculptor, resembles an average alligator. This gives the whole composition an extraordinary and at the same time formidable look. It is against the background of this statue that visitors to the cathedral like to take pictures.

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Right above the portico of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur, tourists are greeted by the statues of Joan of Arc and Louis the Saint, which have turned green from time. The king and the folk heroine in full battle gear sit on horses, reminding visitors of France’s great past. In the central point of the facade there is a figure of Christ, which bears the name “Pious Heart”. The Savior’s right hand is raised upward to bless the parishioners, and his left hand is pressed to his chest.

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The dark forces on the facade of the Sacré-Coeur are represented by gargoyles and chimeras. The detailed figures of infernal creatures make a lasting impression. By the way, on the walls of the basilica can be found such a rare phenomenon as zoomorphic gargoyles, for example, in the form of an angry pig or cunning goat. The main function of these decorative elements – a reminder of the forces of evil, the power of which restrains the Christian faith. There are on the walls of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur and symbolic bas-reliefs, such as a hen sitting in a nest. The bird spreading its wings symbolizes parental care: in the same way, God protects his flock from earthly temptations.

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The interior of the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur

Upon entering the temple through the main entrance, visitors enter the central part of the hall decorated with a magnificent mosaic painting. The unique image bears the title “France’s reverence for the Heart of God” and is one of the largest in the world. The area of this amazing mural is 475 m².

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In the center of the pictorial composition is the figure of Christ stretching out his arms for an embrace. To the left of the Savior depicts the Virgin Mary, and at his feet is kneeling Pope Leo XIII, holding out the globe to the son of God. In addition to the central figures on the canvas there are images of the holy apostles, Joan of Arc, Catholic martyrs, cardinals, as well as ordinary people in national dress, representing all five continents. The mosaic was created by the artist Luc-Olivier Merson over a period of 10 years.

Curious fact: it is Merson’s brush that belongs to the Gothic illustrations for the novel “Notre Dame de Paris” by V. Hugo.

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The mosaic wall paintings consist mainly of biblical and symbolic subjects. For example, the metaphorical depiction of a pelican feeding its chicks is a reference to the sacrament of the Eucharist, when Jesus shared with his disciples the wine and bread that personified the blood and body of God. The red rooster is inextricably linked to the Apostle Peter’s renunciation of faith. The bathing deer symbolize a prayer addressed to god.

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The few stained glass windows of the Sacré-Coeur also make a surprising impression. In addition to the traditional images of saints and martyrs, they sometimes feature the silhouette of a fish, the symbol of the first Christians. In 1944, during the bombing of Paris, some of the stained glass was seriously damaged, but a restoration in 1946 returned the paintings to their original appearance.

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Organ

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is home to one of the largest organs in the world. The large-scale structure is located above the choir, in a niche specially created for it under the rose window. The wooden case of the instrument is decorated with Gothic turrets and small sculptures of angels. The console of this grand instrument has four keyboards for manual playing and one pedal keyboard.

The instrument was designed by Aristide Cavaillé-Cole and, thanks to its 78 registers, was characterized by a unique sound. However, numerous restorations of the instrument did not benefit it. The impossibility of replacing some parts of the structure, as well as the dust that inevitably accumulates in the pipes, has resulted in the organ’s pitch and timbre becoming significantly worse. Nevertheless, to this day the instrument continues to delight parishioners with its amazing music.

Crypt

Descending under the altar part of the temple, you can find the crypt – a room where the relics of saints, martyrs and prominent Parisian figures have found eternal rest. There are 14 burial halls (7 on the eastern side and 7 on the western side). Here you can also see the stone that laid the foundation stone of the cathedral in the year of the beginning of the construction of the Basilica Sacré-Coeur.

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In contrast to the modest but spectacular decoration of the altar part of the temple, the design of the crypt is as ascetic as possible. Gray masonry walls, austere columns supporting the gloomy church vaults – all this suggests that the main function of the room – not at all entertaining. Although there are also interesting exhibits in the “lower” church. For example, in one of the halls there is a monument to the priests and seminarians who died during the Second World War. The tombstones here can also surprise, with photographic accuracy copying the appearance of those who lie beneath them. By the way, the initiator of the construction of the basilica Alexander Lejantil rests in the crypt of the Sacré-Coeur.

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Bell

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is home to the largest bell in Paris. The giant piece weighs 19 tons and is equipped with an equally massive tongue (850 kg). The piece was cast in 1891 in Annecy.

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Opening hours and rules for visiting Sacré-Coeur.

The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur is open to pilgrims and tourists daily from 6am to 11pm. You can visit the crypt and the observation deck under one of the temple’s domes from 9:00 am to 6:45 pm during the summer months and from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm during the fall and winter months. And while entrance to the temple is officially free, you will have to pay about 8 euros to walk through the burial halls and climb the dome.

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Since its foundation and to this day, Sacré-Coeur has remained an active church, receiving pilgrims from all over the world. The never-ending services are part of the vow made by the cathedral’s founders. So when touring the cathedral, don’t offend the sensibilities of the faithful with unnecessarily loud comments and defiant behavior.

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Tourists

The Basilica Sacré-Coeur is a place that is very popular not only with tourists, but also with believing Parisians. If your goal is a quiet stroll through the church halls, it is better to come to the temple in the early morning. Avoid Sunday evening services, school vacations and Catholic vacations – this is when the Sacré-Coeur is especially crowded.

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At the foot of the temple is always a lot of local vendors and charlatans, who willingly sell tourists allegedly miraculous “strings of happiness”, and sometimes, taking advantage of the moment, take out of their pockets wallets.

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The Sacré-Coeur observation deck offers an amazing panorama of Paris. However, to see the French capital in all its splendor, you will have to overcome 237 steps on the stairs. In order not to spoil the impression of the excursion, it is better to come in comfortable shoes, and in the winter months and dress warmer: there is a strong wind on the site.

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Inside the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, photography and videography are prohibited. You are only allowed to take pictures against the background of the basilica’s facade.

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You can organize a tour of the building on your own, just buy a guide to Sacré-Coeur in the church shop. The guide is translated into several languages, which makes it easier to find the necessary information.

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There is a funny belief among tourists and pilgrims: to return to Paris, you must stroke the foot of the statue of St. Peter, located in the basilica.

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How to get there

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is located at the highest point of the Montmartre hill. The exact address of the site is 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris 75018.

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There are several ways to get to the architectural monument. The easiest option for those who plan a quick tour of all the significant sights of the district is the “Montmartrebus”. The route starts right from Place Pigalle. Those who get off at the metro station “Anvers” can go to the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur on foot, climbing the stone Montmartre staircases. A quicker and more comfortable option is the funicular.

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