Visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and enjoy direct access to the dome to admire one of the most beautiful views of Paris!
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre is one of the most emblematic monuments of the city of Paris , with Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral .
With its very atypical architecture at the top of the Montmartre butte, the Sacred Heart and the steps in front of its parvis are on all the postcards of the city. More than just a basilica, the Sacred Heart is a real experience to live, with musicians playing on the marches in front of groups of friends who picnic on the hill park. Very touristic, but within its white walls, the Sacred Heart contains treasures.
If the Basilica is open to everyone, every day of the year from 6am to 10:30pm, for the visit and prayer, access to the dome is paid and many queue to climb the approximately 300 steps that lead to one of the highest points of view of the French capital. We offer you a good plan to avoid this dick and visit the dome of the Sacred Heart Quietly.
The visit of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Built from 1875 just after the Franco-Prussian war and the Chaos de la Commune de Paris , the Sacred Heart is a symbol of the ancient struggle between the old conservative Catholic guard and the secular and republican radicals. He was finally consecrated in 1919, totally contrasting with the bohemian lifestyle around him.
If you arrive at the Sacred Heart by the park facing it, the entrance will be by the left of the building. The visit to the Basilica is free and accessible every day of the year from 6am to 10:30pm. Inside, be sure to lift your eyes to admire the ceiling decorated with the largest mosaic in France, measuring 480 m2.
The crypt also deserves a visit. For 3€, you can see a large urn in which is the heart of Alexander Legentil, one of the two men at the origin of the construction project of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with Hubert Rohault de Fleury. The crypt is also rich in statues of Saints. But this is not an indispensable visit.
The visit of the dome
Thanks to a ticket cut-file (7€), you will be able to climb to the dome of the Sacred Heart without queued. This is the highlight of the visit.
Some 300 steps (without elevator) on a spiral staircase lead you to the dome of the basilica, which offers one of the most spectacular views of Paris. It is said that you can see up to 30 km if the sky is clear. The 360° view is reserved for you, the opportunity to observe for almost an hour the greatest monuments of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the bridges through the Seine.
Right next to the dome, the campanile houses the famous "Savoyarde". weighing 19 tons, the bell is considered the largest bell in the world, at least among those that can swing. It was offered by the 4 dioceses of Savoie and founded in 1895 in Annecy by the company Paccard, whose reputation dates back to that time.
Before you book your skip-the-line ticket for the dome of the Sacré Coeur Basilica, note that the dome is available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (May to September) and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (October to April). These times are subject to change, and may vary depending on weather conditions. If the dome is closed due to poor weather conditions or for any exceptional circumstances, your ticket will be refunded.
Main photo credit: Flickr – cbarbi
Loading comments ...