Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica crowns the butte of Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, at 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre in the Île-de-France. Built between 1875 and 1914 as a national act of penance after the Franco-Prussian War, it is a Romano-Byzantine church in white travertine that stays pale because the stone exudes calcite when it rains. Visitors approach by the stepped gardens of Square Louise-Michel, by the funicular from Place Saint-Pierre, or on foot through the lanes of Montmartre. Inside, the main feature is the apse mosaic of Christ in Majesty, among the largest in France, above the choir. The interior also has side chapels, a crypt and a perpetual-adoration tradition, so silence is requested throughout. A separate ticket gives access to the dome and its roughly 300-step spiral climb, which ends on a gallery giving one of the highest panoramas over Paris, reaching on clear days up to 50 kilometres. The front terrace has a free view of the city, though at a lower elevation than the dome gallery. The basilica itself takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the dome climb and the surrounding Montmartre streets extend a visit to one or two hours or more. Crowds build on the steps from late morning, and the terrace is busiest at sunset and on weekends; the quietest hours are first thing after 06:00 and late evening. Mass and services are held daily, and areas open to tourists can be restricted during them. Visitors should expect security checks at the entrance, and pickpockets are known to operate on the steps.