On a sunny day, the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a spectacular blaze of white against the backdrop of a blue sky. It is located at the summit of butte Montmartre, the highest point in Paris, and can be seen from numerous vantage points across the city.
I can see its domes from a nearby street. So considering it’s a short walk from my apartment (albeit up a few steep roads and 5 staircases!), it has beckoned me to revisit on a number of occasions when there have been sunny skies.
It’s a lovely spot to sit on the sloping grass out the front, where people gather to picnic; read; play a tune on a guitar; or simply relax.
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There is frequently some sort of entertainment on the main staircase directly below the Basilica, musicians or puppeteers station themselves here to entertain those perched on the steps.
But the man who draws the crowds is Iya Traore – a “professional soccer juggler” – now there’s a profession I wasn’t aware existed!
Entertainment, Sacre-Coeur
According to articles on the net, he played soccer at a professional level in Europe, and now does street performances of free-style tricks with a soccer ball. There are numerous You Tube clips dedicated to his performances, such as this one. Be sure to catch him in action!
Once you’ve soaked up some of the ambience outside, a visit to the Basilica itself is a must. Entry is free, and you are not allowed to take photos inside.
The inspiration for the Basilica’s design apparently stemmed from a speech by a Bishop in 1870, who proclaimed France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian war was divine retribution after “a century of moral decline” since the French Revolution.
The Basilica was to mark the foundation of the new post-war French state; as well as being a public monument to the memory of the tens of thousands of French citizens who lost their lives in the war and its aftermath, the Commune of 1871. However, it was not completed until 1914, and did not officially open for worship until 1919 after the end of WWI.
The site of the Basilica upon butte Montmartre is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city’s patron, Saint Denis, in the 3rd century.
So a rather colourful history precedes it, but once inside, you are enveloped by the peace and beauty of its interior – in contrast to the buzz of activity just outside its walls. The beautiful mosaic of “Christ in Majesty” in the apse is one of the largest in the world, and it is worth lingering here to take in the detail of the design.
But the highlight of a visit is climbing to the dome for sweeping views across Paris (6€; for an extra 2€ you can also visit the crypt). Yes, there are good views from atop the staircase out the front of the Basilica, but the dome far surpasses these and is worth the small entry fee, and the climb!
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Views of the Eiffel Tower; Montparnasse Tower; Notre-Dame; and a number of other landmarks are visible from the top – so a clear day is best. Factor into the timing of your visit the setting sun in the direction of the Eiffel Tower, as there can be a bit of late-afternoon haze (as I discovered) – an important consideration for your photos!
And there is always plenty of action in the area surrounding the Basilica, with numerous shops, cafes, and artists creating depictions of their tourist clientele in Place du Tertre (see my previous post on Montmartre here; and do ensure you are wary of your belongings around the Basilica and stairs).
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It’s worth enjoying the evening ambience here as well. I was treated to a stunning sunset one night, with the silhouette of the Basilica framed by the changing colour of a few clouds dotted in the sky. And be sure to walk along the small side road (to the left as you face the Basilica) for a view of the Eiffel Tower peeking through the trees, and lit up in the distance.
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I daresay I will continue to return as the summer unfolds!
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