Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Sacré-Cœur Basilica is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Paris audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Paris Paris guide
About Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The gleaming white Romano-Byzantine basilica crowning Montmartre hill, 130 metres above Paris, offering the most sweeping views over the city.
The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre glows white above Paris, its Romano-Byzantine domes visible from almost every corner of the city. Construction began in 1875 following a national vow made after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, when many Catholics attributed the disaster to national moral decline. The basilica was consecrated in 1919 after construction delays caused by World War One.
Built from travertine stone quarried at Château-Landon, Sacré-Cœur has an extraordinary self-cleaning property: the stone secretes calcite when it rains, which bleaches the surface whiter over time. The bell in its campanile, the Savoyarde, weighs 18.8 tonnes, one of the heaviest bells in the world. Inside, the apse ceiling mosaic of Christ is one of the largest in the world at 480 square metres. Since 1885, perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been maintained without interruption. The steps and lawns below are as famous as the basilica itself, a beloved gathering spot for Parisians and visitors alike.
Did you know? The stone of Sacré-Cœur secretes calcite when it rains, making the basilica get whiter, not darker, as it ages.
How long should you spend at Sacré-Cœur Basilica?
Plan about ~60 min at Sacré-Cœur Basilica. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Sacré-Cœur Basilica worth visiting?
Sacré-Cœur Basilica is one of the 44 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Paris, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Paris
Hear the story of Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Preview the Paris tour free in the Gingerguide app.