Paris (FR)

Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, Paris, France

By guide - August 22, 2017 | 03.57 pm

This wedding cake-white church rises visibly above the north part of Paris. The striking building, with its towers and white onion dome, was built between 1875-1914 on the birthplace of La Commune, officially as an act of penitence for the sins committed during the civil war in which thousands of Communards were executed, as well as for the previous bloodshed of the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.

A number of prominent businessmen put up the money, and a dizzying combination of architects worked to put together the mock Romano-Byzantine extravaganza.
Consecration followed in 1919.

The view over Paris from the dome and from the square before it is unsurpassed, apart from that enjoyed at the Eiffel Tower.

For the athletic traveller there are stairs from several directions to the top of the hill; otherwise, there is also a funicular which runs every few minutes during the daytime from Place St. Pierre.
Follow the signs that say "Funiculaire De Montmartre".

Beware that the guards don't like it if they catch you taking pictures inside and will even yell "No photo!" and chase you down if they see you with a camera.

Be warned: along the lower steps leading up to church, groups of mostly young African men gather and reach toward you with a small string, offering to loop it round your finger. Attempts to brush them off will turn things very ugly and met by claims of "No, this is for the church." They will then demand money for the bracelet they make for you, offering it "at a discount" of up to €20.

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