Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre Paris
Shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Eucharistic Adoration
Perched atop the summit of Montmartre, the highest point in Paris, the Basilica of Sacré‑Cœur de Montmartre is a striking symbol of faith, devotion, and national reflection. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this basilica was built in response to the social and spiritual turmoil of late 19th‑century France. Its gleaming white silhouette, visible across the city, invites pilgrims and visitors alike to enter a place of prayer, reconciliation, and panoramic beauty.
Key Highlights
- Roman‑Byzantine Architecture & White Stone - Designed by Paul Abadie and begun in 1875, the basilica’s style blends Romanesque and Byzantine influences in a majestic form.
Built of travertine stone that exudes calcite and stays brilliant white even with weathering, Sacré‑Cœur’s domes and facades create a luminous presence on the Montmartre skyline. - The Christ in Majesty Mosaic - The interior’s Christ in Majesty mosaic, one of the largest in the world, fills the apse with golden and jewel‑toned imagery of Christ offering His heart in blessing. Designed by Luc‑Olivier Merson and completed in the early 20th century, it remains a central devotional and artistic highlight.
How and Why Sacré‑Cœur Was Built
In the aftermath of the Franco‑Prussian War of 1870‑1871 and the violent Paris Commune uprising, French Catholics sought a spiritual response to national suffering and division. A proposed national vow called for the construction of a basilica dedicated to the Sacred Heart as both an act of penance and reconciliation.
The foundation stone was laid in 1875, and construction continued for nearly forty years under several architects after Paul Abadie’s death. Work was completed in 1914, but the basilica was formally consecrated in 1919 after World War I. Throughout that time, Sacré‑Cœur emerged as a place of pilgrimage and continuous prayer, including perpetual Eucharistic adoration, maintained here since 1885.
Notable Works
Christ in Majesty Mosaic
This vast mosaic in the apse depicts Christ in radiant glory, offering His heart in blessing.
Its size and rich iconography make it one of the most significant artistic works in the basilica.
The Savoyarde (Great Bell)
The basilica’s bell, known as the Savoyarde, weighs nearly 19 tons and is among the largest bells in France.
Installed in the north tower in the late 19th century, it tolls for major liturgical feasts and significant celebrations.
The Dome View & Interior Greek Cross Plan
The basilica’s soaring central dome rises about 83 meters and offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Paris. Inside, the plan based on a Greek cross symbolizes unity and cosmic harmony, drawing the eye upward toward the dome’s celestial height.
A Shrine That Endures
Though younger than many of Paris’s great churches, Sacré‑Cœur has become a cherished spiritual and cultural landmark. Its construction emerged from a time of national reflection and has since stood as a place of ongoing prayer, reconciliation, and devotion.
Today, the basilica continues to draw pilgrims and tourists from around the world, offering both rich liturgical life and one of the most beautiful vistas of the “City of Light.”
See Also:
Basilica of Saint Denis
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