Paris Weekend Break

The Sacre Coeur basilica

The Sacre Coeur basilica is located on Montmartre hill (the highest point in Paris) and is clearly visible from most of the other visitor attractions in the city.

Built on the spot where Saint Denis was beheaded seventeen hundred years ago, the church is Romanesque in design and is a bleached white colour, the result of the white “chateau landon” stone used in its construction. Unlike most other materials this stone actually gets lighter over time.

Construction of the Sacre Coeur basilica started in 1876 and took nearly forty years to complete. The story behind the building’s existance claims that it was built to fulfil a pact made between God and two men, Alexandre Legentil and Rohault de Fleury, during the Prussian war.

The "arrangement" was that the basilica would be built if Paris was spared from attack and invasion. Both parties upheld their sides of the deal.

To most the basilica’s appearance is one of beauty, but it is not universally perceived as such.

From the time of its construction to the present day some commentators have disliked and criticised the building. However, to the majority of tourists the Sacre Coeur basilica is a high point of Parisian architecture and many consider it to be one of the world’s most beautiful buildings..

Features of the Basilica

Aside from its gleaming white colour, the basilica has a massive central dome plus two further and smaller domes to each wing. Additional domes of varying shapes and sizes occur on all elevations of the building, as do arches, rose windows and intricate stone corbelling details.

The building also has number of statues on its main facade including one of the French heroin Joan of Arc. The basilica’s setting, surrounded by cultivated trees and lawns, adds to its almost fairytale like image and the only downside to a visit is the fact that you will be one of several hundred other tourists.

Internally the church features a highly decorative interior with statues, paintings and mosaics and most tourists agree that the structure is as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside.

The basilica has a massive 19 tonne bell that echoes across Paris ensuring that where ever you may be in the city you will be able to see or hear it.