Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

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  • Address
    place du Parvis du Sacré-Cœur, 35 rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre, 18e, 75018
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  • Phone
    53 41 89 00
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: Anvers
bus: 30, 54, 67, 80, 95

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Lonely Planet review

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, perched at the very top of Butte de Montmartre (Montmartre Hill), was built from contributions pledged by Parisian Catholics as an act of contrition after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Construction began in 1873, but the basilica was not consecrated until 1919.

Although the basilica's domes are a well-loved part of the Parisian skyline, most of its architecture is not very graceful. It's always dark in the nave, and the enormous mosaic of a plainly angry Christ over the main altar does little to dispel the gloom.

A 234-step climb up narrow spiral staircases takes you up to the dome, which affords one of Paris' most spectacular panoramas. It is, however, outside on the steps where the action takes place - lovers, buskers, locals and foreigners all converge to take in the vistas and each other.