Things To Know On Sacré-Cœur Basilica
You must be aware of the fact that Paris is one of the most renowned destinations of the world, and thus, there are many important landmarks and attractions that are visited by people round the corners of the world. Among the different important and noticeable landmarks, Sacré-Cœur Basilica is one of them. It is one of the most famous Roman Catholic Church in Paris, and it crowns the butte of Montmartre, which is again the highest point in Paris. It is also considered to be sacred heart of Paris, and this is also one of the reasons why it is visited by the local residents as well as the tourists.
History Of The Church:
Since 1885, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica has been considered to be the most sacred of all places and churches in Paris. This nineteenth century church was mainly designed by Paul Abadie, the famous architect, and he was designing it in the Romano-Byzantine style of architecture. The foundation stone was laid in the year 1875. After the construction of the church, it became a marked monument in the memory of many French citizens that lost their lives in the war between France and Prussia and also its aftermath.
It was after the end of Second World War that it was officially opened as a place of worship, and ironically it is seen by many people as a revenge for the defeat of France by Germany in the war. Since then it has become a holy place and also a flagship for the devotion of Catholics to the holy virgins in Paris. This famous church has also been represented by the painters of Montmartre.
The Beautiful Architecture:
Apart from its enriched history, it is also the beauty of the architecture that attracts large numbers of people to Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The entire architecture is built in a byzantine style, and is completely white. This building is dominating the city of Montmartre even today. In fact, the architect was already known for several other famous cathedrals in France. The interior of the Basilica also comprises of the largest mosaics of the world, while at the same time, it also depicts the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ. There is also a bell tower nearby and it contains the “Savoyarde”, which is the heaviest in the world. The top of the dome also gives a panoramic view of the city in all directions that extends almost up to 30 kilometers.
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica has been built with a special stone, which is resistant to frost, and thereby it has the capability to weather out the calcite. As a result, it completely bleaches and keeps the whiteness of the building. Apart from that, this Basilica is also surmounted by two equestrian statues of bronze, King Saint Louis IX, and Joan of Arc. These indicate a national reference, which is quite similar to that of Great Bell. As this is also a very important landmark in Paris, you must ensure that you do not miss out visiting it at any cost.
