How can you talk about Paris without mentioning the Sacré-Coeur at least once? Located in the heart of Montmartre, this magnificent, world-famous basilica continues to amaze us! But do you really know all its secrets? Discover five things you need to know about France’s most beloved basilica.
Sacré-Coeur houses France’s largest mosaic AND its largest bell
Yes, the basilica can boast two records! The latter houses France’s largest bell. It measures 3 metres in height and 19 metres in circumference. And it even has a name: La Savoyarde.
But that’s not all: Sacré-Coeur is blessed with the largest mosaic in France. This 475 m² mosaic elegantly decorates the apse ceilings. It depicts the risen Christ, as well as the Virgin Mary, St. Michael and other key figures of the time.
Admission is free (only the dome and crypt are chargeable)
This may seem obvious to believers, but not everyone knows it. But the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is open to all, free of charge. Only the dome and crypt are chargeable! Time permitting, we recommend climbing the 300 steps up to the dome. Sure, it’ll be sporty, but it’s well worth the effort, as the view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower is just breathtaking.
50 years of work and 7 architects for a single basilica
It may sound crazy, but it’s true. Paul Abadie won the competition to build the basilica in 1873. Unfortunately, almost 10 years later, he died. He was replaced by Honoré Daumet, who made a number of construction changes, resulting in a major delay. Two years later, Charles Laisné took over for a further five years. On his death, Henri-Pierre Rauline and Charles Garnier continued the project in 1891. From 1904 to 1916, a new architect was again at the helm of this construction project: Lucien Magne. But in the end, it was architect Louis-Jean Hulot who finally delivered the basilica, completed in 1923. That’s 50 years of work!
We had to wait until 2022 for the Sacré-Cœur to be classified as a historic monument
On December 8, 2022, the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, announced that the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur and the Square Louise-Michel had been classified as historic monuments. This is very good news for the defenders of this religious building, who have been fighting for this title for years. We had to wait 112 years for such recognition. ..
The Sacré-Coeur was built with self-cleaning stone
Ever wonder why the Sacré-Coeur is always so white? The secret of its eternal brilliance lies in its stone. In contact with water, Château-Landon stone naturally produces cullet. A kind of liquid which, on contact with water, cleans the stone. Quite simply!