Sacre-Coeur Basilica: A spiritual tourist destination in France
The Sacre-Coeur Basilica (or commonly known as the Sacred Heart of Montmartre) is located on the top of Montmartre hill, in the 18th arrondissement of the City of Paris. Come on, let's take a bus rental service in Paris with MBS87 to take a tour around this Catholic church.
History of Montmartre and Sacre-Cœur Basilica
Montmartre Hill is an ancient settlement with a very long history, dating back to the Roman period. By the 19th century, a few famous artists (like Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse,...) . Stopped here just because they were "captivated" by the wonderful scenery only found on this hill. And until now, Montmartre is one of the highest points in Paris. And also attracts a large number of tourists every year.
Regarding the history of the Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, we have to go back to 1870. The period when the Franco-Prussian war broke out. As soon as Paris was besieged, Legentil and Rohault and their families moved to Poitiers. And being very religious people, the two thought that France lost the war because it was full of sins. So they had to build a church to show their sincere repentance.
The idea of building the Sacre - Coeur cathedral has been around since 1870. But it not until 1875 that construction was completed and in 1919, this work was completed. Sacre-Coeur Basilica also means "Sacred Heart", referring to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In 1895, the large bell donated by Savoie parish was transferred to the church. Bearing the name of Saint Savoyarde, the bell is 3 meters in diameter and weighs about 19 tons. Cast by the Paccard brothers in Annecy, 28 horses mobilized to cleverly return the bell to Paros on the night of October 16, 1895, Saint Marguerite-Marie's day.
The dedication ceremony at the church was planned to take place in 1914. But at this time World War I broke out, and it was not until 1919 that the ceremony was held.
The architecture built in the Roman - Byzantine style
Perched atop the 129-meter-high Montmartre hill, Catholic pilgrims can easily recognize the highlight of Sacre-Coeur Basilica by its pure white color. Even though it has gone through centuries, this church still retains its original color intact. Extremely majestic between heaven and earth in Paris.
The church's construction stone is water-resistant and extremely durable - an extremely special construction material that, along with the climatic conditions as well as the careful preservation of the people of the French capital, makes Sacre - Coeur sustainable and lasting forever over time.
The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre
was built in two combined architectural styles, Roman and Byzantine, and these are the two pinnacle architectural schools of humanity. The dome and colorful windows of the church best represent the Byzantine architecture of ancient Rome. Meanwhile, Roman architecture imprinted on the columns connected to the dome.
The church's floor plan bears the shape of a large cross. The main dome of the church is 55 meters high, the kings hall is 16 meters high and the top is 83 meters high. Inside the church apse is 475 square meters wide. The glass windows installed between 1903 -1920, but were later broken due to the destruction of landmines in 1944. And that same year, 13 bombs were dropped directly on Sacre - Coeur basilica but not one died.
The pipe organ in the church made in 1898, and was the last work of famous organ maker Aristide Cavaillé - Coll before his death. And later, experts identified this as one of the most wonderful pipe organ systems in Paris, France. And even Europe, because of its rare quality and smooth sound.
In 2005, Sacre-Coeur Basilica welcomed nearly 8 million visitors, ranking first on the list of "places you need to visit when you set foot in Paris", ranked above both the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum. The image of Sacre - Coeur basilica also appears in works of art, typically the movie Sabrina produced in 1954, or Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain produced in 2001.
Things to experience at Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Sacre - Coeur basilica is open from 6am to 10:30pm, visitors can come to pray between 9am and 7pm in summer, and in winter the church will close early 1 hour. And you should also note that inside the Basilica you will not allowed to film or take photos.
From the foot of the hill, you can use the stairs to go to the top of Montmartre hill or take the elevator. The first thing you see before entering the church is the telescope. There are many telescopes here so you can observe the whole scene of Paris, especially the sparkling night scene. Next to Sacre - Coeur is Tertre Square, a familiar place for artists. Who are always ready to send visitors beautiful and unique portraits.
How to experience Sacre-Coeur Basilica?
Sacre - Coeur basilica is truly a great tourist destination, and everything is so easy to get to Sacre - Coeur basilica tour from Paris. With a trip to Paris, you only need to spend one day a day to fully explore this great work. And if you are a follower of Catholicism, surely, Sacre - Coeur basilica will be on the list of places you should visit.
If you are missing a companion, MBS87 - a company specializing in organizing tours throughout Europe and minibus hire for France - will be a great companion for you. With our headquarters located in Paris, we are as familiar with everything here as our homeland. Our local guides, with over 10 years of experience, can provide great knowledge and experiences when you are in Paris or visit Sacre - Coeur basilica.
With our sharing about the great work, Sacre - Coeur basilica, we hope you will have a wonderful experience when you come to this place. See you one day soon.
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