Le Sacre Coeur

 

Paris has so many great sites to see and things to do!  Le Sacre Coeur—or The Sacred Heart–is one of my favorites.  Others agree, for it is the second most visited church behind Notre Dame.

The Basilica of the Sacre Coeur de Montmartre is located on the north side of the city, in Montmartre.

A nearby church was built before the arrival of the Roman Empire.  The current basilica was built in 1872.  People were worried about the conservative government so there was a 4 month uprising–a revolution.  It culminated with The Paris Commune, a very bloody week.  In celebration, a church was built where the fighting began.  Though not as ancient or impressive as Notre Dame, it is beautiful, with mosaics on the ceiling.  It has the largest bell in France, a gift from La Savoie, in the Alps, in 1880.

White towers dominate the lower houses and look down on the River Seine.  From the steps, you have a nice view of the Eiffel Tower and the entire city.

You can either walk the steps up to the basilica or take a funicular, which has 2 million passengers per year.

The area around the basilica is lovely–gardens, hidden stairways, old houses, musicians, flowers and cafes abound, even a vineyard.  Montmartre used to be a small village for impoverished artists; it is pricey now and very well known.  “La Boheme” is about Montmartre.    Picasso and other artists hung out at Le Chat Noir.  The restaurant Le Moulin de la Galette is depicted in many paintings.

A massively touristic attraction in an iconic neighborhood with a terrific view and lots of history, Le Sacre Coeur–the church on the hill–is a must see when you are in Paris!