Paris’ Sacre Coeur Cathedral
While visiting Paris, Sacre Coeur has to be on the “must-see” list. The cathedral’s white facade and Roman-Byzantyne architecture has made it one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Because Sacre Coeur is on Paris’ highest hill (Montmartre), it is easily visible from most open spaces in the city.
(which makes it a great place to view Paris from)
The History Of Sacre Coeur Paris
After France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 and the the bloody Commune of 1871, the idea of the church was mooted. There is still debate over whether it was intended to honor those that died in the war or if it was to "expiate the crimes of the communards".
Either way, the idea was accepted and the first stones were laid in 1875.
However, the building project was troubled and it wasn’t until 39 years later, in 1914 that Paris had it’s Sacre Coeur
Montmartre And The Cathedral
The choice of Montmartre for the church is particularly apt as the hill has religious significance (Montmartre means “Hill of the Martyrs”).
St Denis the patron saint of Paris was beheaded here and, according to legend, he picked up his severed head and carried it several miles to what is now the town of St Denis.
Ever since then, there has been a Christian presence on the hill and it’s been a place of pilgrimage. Though, don’t worry, there are no headless saints around these days!
Things To Do While Visiting Sacre Coeur
Most visitors take the metro to Anvers and then either walk up the hill or take the funiculaire to the top.
Once you’re at the top, you can benefit from some of the best views of the Paris skyline. Among the sites you can pick out are Notre Dame, the Centre Pompidou, St Eustache and the Pantheon.
Obviously, you should go into the church and, if you want even better views of the city, you can go up to the dome of the basilica.
After wandering around Sacre Coeur Paris , many tourists then go to see the sketch artists at Place Du Tertre. Personally, I find Place Du Tertre to be tacky and over commercial and barely worth the effort. However, there are other interesting things to do in this part of town:
(1) It’s hard to find (you need a map), but try to get to Place Marcel Ayme as there’s a fun sculpture of a man passing through a wall.
(2) If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris in May, there is the Montmartre vintage car rally where restored cars try to make it up the steep hill.