Sacré-Cœur, Paris facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, as seen from the base of the butte Montmartre
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Archdiocese of Paris
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica
Year consecrated	1919
Location
Location	Paris, France
Architecture
Architect(s)	Paul Abadie
Groundbreaking	1875
Completed	1914
Specifications
Length	85 metres (279 ft)
Width	35 metres (115 ft)
Height (max)	83 metres (272 ft)
Materials	Travertine stone

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre (which means Sacred Heart of Montmartre) is a famous Roman Catholic church in Paris, France. People often call it Sacré-Cœur Basilica or just Sacré-Cœur. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On December 8, 2022, it was officially named a national historic monument.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica sits on top of a hill called Montmartre. From its tall dome, which is 200 meters (about 656 feet) above the Seine River, you can see all of Paris. It's the second most visited place in Paris, right after the Eiffel Tower.

The idea for the basilica came from Felix Fournier, a bishop, in 1870. This was after France lost a big battle in the Franco-Prussian War. He believed France's problems were due to a decline in morals. So, he suggested building a new church in Paris to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Paul Abadie designed the basilica. His plan, which mixed old Roman and Byzantine styles, was chosen from many ideas. Building started in 1875 and took 40 years. Five different architects worked on it. It was finished in 1914 and officially opened in 1919, after World War I.

Since 1885, people have continuously prayed at Sacré-Cœur Basilica. This is called perpetual adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The hill of Montmartre is also special because it's where Saint Denis of Paris, the patron saint of Paris, was traditionally martyred.

History of the Basilica
What the Basilica Looks Like
Sacré-Cœur's Importance in Catholicism
How to Get There
Sacré-Cœur in Martinique
See also

History of the Basilica

Why the Basilica Was Built

The idea for a new church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus came on September 4, 1870. This was after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Bishop Felix Fournier of Nantes suggested it. He felt France's defeat was a punishment for its moral decline since the French Revolution.

Alexandre Legentil, who helped raise money for the church

In January 1871, a kind person named Alexandre Legentil joined Bishop Fournier. Legentil believed France was being punished for its mistakes. He wrote that they should build a church to ask for forgiveness and help for France.

Legentil's influence helped raise money for the church. All the money came from private donations, not from the government.

Choosing the Location

Montmartre was chosen for the new basilica because it's a very tall hill. You can see the church from many parts of Paris. The land on Montmartre belonged to both the local government and private owners. The French parliament helped get the land by saying the church was important for the whole country. In July 1873, the plan was approved. They said the church would help make up for past "crimes" or mistakes. Building began in 1875.

Montmartre, meaning "Hill of the Martyrs," was also chosen for its religious history. People believe Saint Denis of Paris, Paris's patron saint, was executed there by the Romans. His tomb became the site of the Basilica of St Denis, where French kings were traditionally buried.

Montmartre was also where the Society of Jesus began. This is a very large and important religious group in the Catholic Church. In 1534, Ignatius of Loyola and his followers took their vows in Saint-Pierre de Montmartre. This is one of the oldest churches in Paris.

How the Basilica Was Built

Building Sacré-Cœur in 1882
Building Sacré-Cœur in 1897
The funicular railway to Sacré-Cœur around 1905

A competition was held to choose the design for the basilica. Seventy-seven different plans were submitted. Paul Abadie was chosen as the architect. The first stone was laid on June 16, 1875.

Building the church was difficult because the ground was not stable. Workers had to dig 83 wells, each 30 meters (about 98 feet) deep. They filled these with rock and concrete to create strong foundations. The first 7 million francs (French money) from donors were spent just on the foundations. A small temporary chapel was opened in 1876, and money from visitors helped fund the rest of the project.

Abadie died in 1884, after the foundations were finished. Five other architects took over and made changes to the design.

Some people tried to stop the building process. In 1882, a politician named Georges Clemenceau tried to stop the work and block funding. But if they stopped, the government would have to pay back a lot of money. So, construction continued.

In 1891, the inside of the basilica was finished and opened for people to visit and pray. Clemenceau tried again in 1897 to stop the project, but his idea was rejected. Stopping the project would mean paying back 30 million francs to eight million people who had donated.

The church's dome was finished in 1899, and the bell tower in 1912. The entire basilica was completed in 1914. It was officially dedicated in 1919, after World War I.

What the Basilica Looks Like

The church is 85 meters (about 279 feet) long and 35 meters (about 115 feet) wide. It has a large central dome, with a smaller main area (nave), two side sections (transepts), and a front choir area. These parts form a cross shape. The front entrance has three arches, similar to the Périgueux Cathedral. The most striking part is the huge, oval-shaped dome, which is 83.33 meters (about 273 feet) high. Four smaller domes surround it. At the north end is the bell tower, 84 meters (about 276 feet) high. It holds the "Savoyarde," the biggest bell in France.

The church's style mixes Roman and Byzantine designs. This was a unique style at the time. It was a different choice compared to the more common styles of other buildings in Paris. Later architects, including Charles Garnier, who designed the Palais Garnier opera house, also worked on the basilica.

Some parts of the design, like the tall domes and window shapes, have a Neo-classical look. These were added by later architects.

Outside the Basilica

Plan of the church, showing the bell tower and domes
Sacré-Cœur seen from above
The main entrance, facing Paris
A close-up view of Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The bell tower on the north side holds the 19-ton Savoyarde bell. This bell is one of the heaviest in the world. It was made in 1895 in Annecy. Its name reminds people of the region of Savoy joining France in 1860.

Detail of the south side
The north side and choir area
The bell tower

The main entrance on the south side has many sculptures. These sculptures show both religious and French national themes. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ sits at the very top. The arches are decorated with two horseback statues. These show French saints Joan of Arc (made in 1927) and King Saint Louis IX. Both statues are made of bronze.

Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the south side
Statue of Joan of Arc on the south side
Statue of Saint Louis (King Louis IX) on the south side

The white stone of Sacré-Cœur is a type of travertine limestone called Chateau-Landon. It comes from a quarry in Souppes-sur-Loing, France. This stone is very hard and fine-grained. It also releases a substance called calcite when it touches rainwater. This makes the stone look incredibly white.

Inside the Basilica

The choir and the altar
The main dome from below. Angels hold symbols of Christ's suffering.
Inside the North Dome

The main area (nave) has a very high dome. This dome represents the heavens. It rests on a rectangular space, which represents the earthly world. Large columns connect these two parts, showing the path between worlds.

The inside layout is a Greek cross, with the altar in the middle. This is like old Byzantine churches. More traditional features, like the choir and a walkway around the altar, were added. The church's interior is usually dim because the windows are high above the altar. This creates a special, mysterious feeling. Other Byzantine touches include the floor tiles and glass designs.

The Triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mosaic

Left side of the "Christ in Majesty" mosaic
Center of the "Christ in Majesty" mosaic
Right side of the "Christ in Majesty" mosaic

The large mosaic above the choir is called The Triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It's the most important artwork in the church. It was made by Luc-Olivier Merson, H. M. Magne, and R. Martin, and finished in 1923. The mosaic is made of 25,000 pieces of colored and gold ceramic. It covers 475 square meters (about 5,113 square feet), making it one of the biggest mosaics in the world.

In the center is Jesus Christ, wearing white, with open arms. He is showing his heart, decorated with gold. His mother, the Virgin Mary, and the Archangel Michael are with him. Michael protects the church and France. At Jesus's feet, Joan of Arc kneels and offers him a crown. A figure of Pope Leo XIII offers a globe, symbolizing the world.

On Jesus's right, a scene shows "The Homage of France to the Sacred Heart." Popes and cardinals present a small model of the basilica to Christ. On his left, "The Homage of the Catholic Church to the Sacred Heart" shows people from five continents honoring the Sacred Heart. At the bottom, a Latin message says the basilica is a gift from France: "To the Sacred Heart of Jesus, France fervent, penitent and grateful." The word "grateful" was added after World War I.

At the top of the mosaic is another group called "the Saints of France and Saints of the Universal Church." The artists used ideas from Byzantine art in the mosaic. This includes how the figures are arranged, the way things look from different angles, and the use of many colors with silver and gold.

The basilica also has a garden for quiet thought and a fountain. You can go to the top of the dome for amazing views of Paris.

Remember, you are not allowed to use cameras or video recorders inside the basilica.

Chapels

Altar of the Chapel of Saint Louis
Sculpture of Mary with Child in an inner chapel
The baptismal font

The inside of the basilica has many small chapels around its edges. Many of these were given by different professional groups or religious orders. The chapels are decorated with sculptures, carvings, and tapestries. These often show things related to the jobs of the people who donated them. For example, the Chapel of Notre Dame of the Sea has tapestries showing Christ walking on water.

Some of the chapels include:

The Chapel of the Archangel Michael (for armies)
The Chapel of Saint Louis (Louis IX) (for lawyers)
The Chapel of Marguerite-Marie Alacoque
The Chapel of Notre Dame of the Sea

There are also seven more chapels around the main altar area.

Crypt

Stained glass and a statue of Christ in the crypt
Religious clothes on display in the crypt
Art with candlelight in the crypt

The crypt under Sacré-Cœur is special because it's not completely underground. It has stained glass windows. A trench around it lets light come in. In the middle of the crypt is the Chapel of the Pieta. It has a large statue of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross, made by Jules Coutain in 1895. There are also 14 other chapels in the crypt. The crypt holds the tombs of important people who helped build the basilica.

Art and Decoration

The walls, floor, and architecture are covered with decorations. Much of the decoration is in a neo-Byzantine style. This means it has complex patterns and lots of bright colors.

Stained Glass Windows

Chapel windows in Neo-Byzantine style showing the lives of Clovis I and Louis IX
Windows above the organ
A round window showing the Sacred Heart of Christ
Window showing "Christ conquers"

Sculptures

Saint John Healing the Sick, by Léon Fagel
Christ with Child (Pieta)
Cardinal Guibert, holding a model of the basilica

Saint Hubert by Duchesse d'Uzés (1889)
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre- crypte - Saints Donatien et Rogatien par P. Potet (1850)
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre- crypte - Saint Bruno by Henri Louis Noël (1899)

The Grand Organ

The Grand Organ
View from behind the organ towards the altar

The basilica has a very large and beautiful pipe organ. It was built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, a famous organ builder from Paris in the 1800s. He also built organs for other famous churches like Saint-Denis Basilica and Notre Dame de Paris. This organ has 109 rows of pipes and 78 stops. It was very advanced for its time.

The organ was first built in 1898 for a castle. It was the last instrument Cavaillé-Coll ever built. In 1905, it was moved to Sacré-Cœur. The organ was recognized as a national landmark in 1981. It has been repaired several times.

The Bells

The bell tower of Sacré-Cœur has five bells. The four smaller bells are named Félicité, Louise, Nicole, and Elisabeth. They were moved to the basilica in 1969.

Below these four bells is a giant bell called "The Savoyarde." It is the biggest bell in France. Its full name is “Françoise Marguerite of the Sacred Heart of Jesus." It was made on May 13, 1891, in Annecy-le-Vieux.

The Savoyarde only rings on major religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. One special time it rang was on August 24, 1944. This was when French soldiers entered Paris to free it from Nazi German occupation. The bell rang to celebrate this moment. You can hear the Savoyarde from 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) away!

This bell is the fifth largest in Europe. It weighs 18,835 kilograms (about 41,524 pounds). It was a gift from four regions of Savoy. It was brought to the basilica on October 16, 1895, pulled by 28 horses.

Sacré-Cœur's Importance in Catholicism

The church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion became very popular after the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1600s. In 1856, Pope Pius IX made the feast day of the Sacred Heart official. The basilica itself was officially opened on October 16, 1919.

Since 1885, even before the church was finished, the Blessed Sacrament has been continuously on display. This means people can always come and pray before it. This perpetual adoration has continued without stopping since 1885.

Visitors are asked to dress respectfully and be quiet inside the basilica. This is important so that people who have come to pray are not disturbed. Taking photos inside is not allowed.

How to Get There

You can reach the basilica by bus or by metro on line 2 at Anvers station. Sacré-Cœur is open every day from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM. You can visit the dome from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM in summer and until 6:00 PM in winter.

Panorama of Paris from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Sacré-Cœur in Martinique

A smaller version of the basilica, called Sacré-Cœur de la Balata, is in Martinique. It's located north of Fort-de-France. This church was built for people who lost their homes after a volcano erupted. It was dedicated in 1915.