8 Interesting Facts About Sacré-Coeur

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, or Sacré Coeur Basilica, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica in Paris, France. It was built and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

It is a well-known attraction and the city’s second most visited monument.

Sacre Couer, perched on the hills of picturesque Montmartre, gives one of the city’s best vistas.

8 Interesting Facts About Sacré-Coeur

History of Sacré-Coeur

Cardinal Guibert, the Archbishop of Paris, secured the rights to use the property at the top of Montmartre Hill for the construction of a new church in 1873.

The concept for the Sacre Coeur sprang from the fact that the French Army was sadly defeated by the Prussians after a long battle in 1870, splitting the country’s people.

Following the victory of the land bill in 1873, another attempt to stop the church’s construction happened in 1897.

The majority of the interior was finished by this period, and the church had been open for six years.

The church was still not finished in 1884, and the project’s original architect, Paul Abadie, died.

It required a team of six other architects to finish the fantastic work that this artist had begun.

The Sacre Coeur Basilica was generally regarded as finished in 1914, with the exception of a few minor details that need attention.

Unfortunately, the church’s completion was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I.

The Sacre Coeur was eventually consecrated in 1919, following the end of the war.

Interesting Facts About Sacre Couer

Here are some fascinating facts about the Sacre Couer:

1. Sacre Couer is an ancient place of worship.

Although the Sacre-Coeur today rises atop Montmartre’s hill, it was previously a site of worship prior to its construction.

Pagan rituals were historically practiced there, and Gallo-Roman temples dedicated to Mercure and Mars were once constructed.

2. The Parisians funded it.

The devoted Parisians donated generously to help build the church.

The initiative to build an imposing Christian church atop Montmartre Hill was approved by the National Assembly in 1873.

The names of those who contributed to the building of the Sacre Couer are engraved on its walls.

3. Its name was devoted to sacred heart of Jesus Christ

The Sacre-Coeur was devoted to the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, unlike the basilicas built during that time period, which were normally named after Marie, Jesus’ mother.

The name Sacré-Cur alludes to Jesus’ heart, which symbolizes his divine love for humanity.

4. It is one of the most unique architectures in the city.

The architecture of Sacré-Coeur stands in stark contrast to most Parisian churches, which are predominantly Romanesque, Gothic, or Baroque.

It is because Churches like Saint Sofia in Constantinople and San Marco in Venice have influenced its design.

5. Sacré-Coeur is the second highest point in Paris.

At 130 meters above sea level, the basilica is perched atop Montmartre’s slope. The bell tower and dome are both 83 meters tall, making it the second-highest point in Paris (213 meters), after the Eiffel Tower (324 meters), and just ahead of the Montparnasse Tower (210 m).

6. Sacré-Coeur’s bell is one of the largest and heaviest bells in the world.

The Savoie, a French county in the Alps, offered the “Savoyarde,” a massive bell melted by the Paccard business.

They pulled the bell to the top of Montmartre’s slope in 1895 with the help of 21 horses.

The “Savoyarde,” which weighs roughly 19 tons, is one of the world’s largest and heaviest bells.

7. Sacré-Coeur cleans itself.

For the construction of the Sacre-Coeur, the architect Paul Abadie picked a very special stone.

The white stone was mined near Souppes, in the French department of Seine-et-Marne.

This stone is extremely water resistant and that when the stones touch with water, such as when it rains, a chemical called “calcite” is released, which cleans the stone and keeps its white hue.

8. You can enjoy the best view of Paris from Sacré-Coeur.

Compared to the Eiffel Tower the Sacré-Coeur has a higher vantage point for seeing the city that most visitors are unaware of.

If you still have the energy after ascending the first 300 steps, there is another rickety staircase inside the basilica that leads to the church’s dome and the best view of the city.