France June 2016 - Sacre Couer

We've been seeing it from afar our entire stay in Paris so it was finally time to see it up close.  Our last stop in Paris was to visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacre-Couer.   It is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It's on the north side of town.

 
   

A popular landmark, the basilica stands at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.

The basilica was designed by Paul Abadie. Construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914. The basilica was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919
   
A statue of Saint Joan of Arc.
   
A statue of King Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly known as Saint Louis.  He was the only King of France to be canonized in the Catholic Church. Louis was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the death of his father Louis VIII; his mother, Blanche of Castile, ruled the kingdom as regent until he reached maturity.
   
Looking down from the front of the Basilica over the cit of Paris.
   
Just below the Basilica is the Square Louise-Michel.  This area was very touristy -- sort of like Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.  There were lots of people including street vendors, two of which actually got into a physical altercation!   Below the square were a bunch of souvenir shops.  The famous nightclub Moulin Rouge is in this area.  It used to be a mandatory thing to see back in the day -- my parents went -- but now I hear it is outdated, overpriced, and a total tourist trap riding on it's wave of fame.
   
Looking back at Sacre-Coeur. 
   
   
Previous
Home
Next