The Sacré-Cœur Basilica (or “Sacred Heart” in Hebrew), located on the top of Montmartre Hill, is considered one of the greatest symbols of Paris, along with Eiffel Tower וNotre Dame CathedralUnlike Notre Dame, which has always been beloved by Parisians, and the Eiffel Tower, which Parisians have learned to love over the years, the Sacré-Cœur was met with immense contempt by the residents of Montmartre from the day it began to be built.
Why didn't the neighborhood residents like the Sacré-Cœur? I'll try to answer this question in the next article. Before I do, let me provide you with all the tourist information you need to visit this church, because even if the French themselves don't like it much, there's no reason for you to miss it and the spectacular Parisian view it offers.
Sacra Ker Church – Visitor Information
How do you get to Skara Ker?
Address: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre
There is no metro line that reaches the summit of Sakkara, but even if you have difficulty walking, or are not interested in getting there on foot, there are several other ways to get there.
The first way is to take metro line 2 and get off at Anvers station. From there, walk along Rue de Steinkerque until you reach Place Louise Michel. There you will find a cable car that will take you to Sekre Ker (you can pay for the cable car with your metro/bus tickets).
Another way is to take one of the following bus lines: 30, 31, 80 and 85.
And if you're adventurous, you can try Claude's way of kneading (the following video is not for the faint of heart :-).
Opening hours: Every day from 06:00-22:30
Link to the official website of Sacra Ker
Climbing on the roof of Skara Ker
If you are in good shape and want to see the Paris From above (or if you're just a masochist like me who has to climb every tall building they see on foot), you'll be happy to know that you can climb the roof of the Sacra Ker.
The entrance to the place where you can climb the tower is on the left side of the church (assuming you are facing the main entrance) and the last entry is at 17:00 PM. The ticket price is 7 euros (as of February 2024) and after climbing nearly 300 steps, you can enjoy this view.
Now that you have received all the information a traveler needs, let's embark on another journey, a journey through time that will take us to one of Paris' darkest periods and the famous church that grew out of it.
The story of the Church of Skara Ker
The Terrible Year
In the history of France There were quite a few unpleasant and even very difficult periods, but no year (including 1940, the year Paris was occupied by the Nazis) was nicknamed L'Année terrible (The Terrible Year), except for 1870-1871.
This year began with political unrest, which led to the dismissal of Baron Haussmann (Georges-Eugène Haussmann 1809-1891), the man most responsible for the construction of the Paris we know and love. In order to deal with the political unrest, Napoleon III decided to declare war on the Prussians, which led to the Franco-Prussian War, in which Napoleon III was defeated and taken prisoner.
As a result, the Third Empire fell and the Third Republic was proclaimed, but the Republicans did not have much time to celebrate because the Prussians arrived in the suburbs of Paris and laid siege to it. All Parisians were enlisted in the National Guard to defend Paris from the Prussians, including the residents of the Montmartre district, who even donated money to buy cannons.
The siege led to a massive famine in the city, and after all counterattacks failed, Paris was forced to surrender in January 1871. The surrender and the humiliating peace treaty, during which France lost its Too bad Alsace and parts ofLorraine region They caused enormous unrest among the French, especially among left-wing supporters who lived in the northern and northeastern districts of the city.
On March 18, 1871, the event that was the “match that lit the fire of the rebellion” took place in Montmartre. As mentioned, the people of Paris had paid for about 200 cannons, the purpose of which was to defend Paris from the Prussians. However, now that the war was over, the Republic decided to return these cannons to the army.
A military force under the command of Generals Jacques Leon Clément-Thomas (1809-1871) and Claude Lecomte (1817-1871) was sent to bring back the cannons that had been placed on the summit of Montmartre, but on the way they were attacked by an angry Parisian mob, resulting in a significant portion of their soldiers rebelling and helping to take them prisoner.
After a “trial” held for them, the two generals were taken to 6 rue des Rosiers at the top of Montmartre (please do not confuse it with Rue des Rosiers, in the Jewish Quarter inMarais) And there the generals were executed.
The execution of the generals led to the removal of the Republican government from Paris and the establishment of the Paris Commune. The Commune survived for a few months, and in May 1871 the Republican army, which had managed to organize itself inVersaillesAnd at a huge cost in blood (it is estimated that about 30,000 people were killed, most of them supporters of the Commune) he managed to conquer Paris within a week.
The devastation left by the Commune and the massive killing required to suppress it were France's low point, leaving an entire nation traumatized. Many saw this terrible year as punishment from heaven for the sins of France, and especially for the sins of the Commune's supporters, who were not distinguished by their love of God (to put it mildly). The backlash came shortly after the last of the bodies had been cleared from the streets and Paris began to lick its wounds.
The war against Skara Kerr
One of those who saw the French defeat by the Prussians, and all that followed, as divine punishment, was the philanthropist Alexandre Félix Legentil (1821-1889). Back in January 1871, as Paris was about to surrender, Legentil vowed to build a church on the summit of Montmartre, in order to “restore its former glory.”
Because Chalzentil had quite a few connections among the rich and famous of Paris, he was able to harness many of them to the idea of building a church on the summit of Montmartre, and the Sacré-Cere turned from a private vision into a kind of national project.
A year after the liquidation of the Commune, the National Assembly decided to purchase the land on the summit of Montmartre, using money collected from donations, and to build the church there. A year later, a competition was held to which more than 70 architects, including Charles Garnier, the architect of Paris Opera.
The winner of the competition was Paul Abadie (1812-1884), who received a budget of about 7 million francs and immediately began work. However, 11 years later he died and was replaced by Honoré Daumet (1826-1911), the architect responsible for the renovation of the palace. Chantilly.
However, this architect was also replaced and a “parade” of architects began, none of whom were able to complete the church. Eventually, in 1923, about 50 years after the decision to build it was made, the construction of the church was completed (the church itself was inaugurated in 1919, although the construction was not yet completely finished).
What caused such a huge delay in the construction of a church that had the backing of the National Assembly and such a significant budget? The first reason was engineering in nature. The summit of Montmartre could not support such a large church, as it was previously home to quarries, which left empty spaces behind. As a result, 83 pits had to be dug into the mountain and filled with cement and stones to create strong enough foundations.
With all due respect to the engineering challenges, this was not the only, or even the most significant, reason for the delay. What caused the work to be delayed was the struggle of the residents of Montmartre, for whom this church was a kind of “eye in the eye.”
True, building a church on the top of Montmartre was not supposed to be an absurd or provocative idea. After all, if you read the article about theHistory of Montmartre You will discover that the place has been a religious center since the early Middle Ages.
First, it was here that Saint Denis lost his head (which did not prevent him from getting up and continuing to walk and preach for miles). Second, less than a century before the “terrible year”, Montmartre was ruled by a convent mother and already in the Middle Ages the church of Saint-Pierre was built there, which still exists today. And third, it was here that the Jesuits, one of the most important religious orders of the Catholic Church, were founded by Ignatius of Loyola.
However, in the eyes of the residents of Montmartre, this was a provocation by representatives of the French Catholic bourgeoisie, who financed the construction of the church. After all, where did they intend to build this church? Right on the summit of Montmartre, not far from the place where the two generals were executed, and worse, in the area where until then there had been inns where the residents of the district used to drink cheap wine. What audacity!
In order to prevent the construction of the church, which was created as a result of their “sins,” the residents of Montmartre began a public struggle, and in 1882, a coalition led by Clemenceau (Georges Clemenceau 1841-1929), who had previously been the mayor of Montmartre, won the elections to the National Assembly and sought to eliminate the Sacré-Cère project.
Clemenceau tried to prevent the church's construction from continuing by legislation, but ultimately failed, as this would have required the repayment of millions of francs to all those who had contributed to its construction (this did not prevent him from trying to cancel the project again in 1891 and failing for the same reasons).
Since the residents of Montmartre saw that the construction of the church could not be prevented, they tried to at least hide it from public view, which was not an easy task considering its location. Their plan was to convince the National Assembly to build a replica of the Statue of Liberty on the summit of Montmartre, which would hide the church. However, this attempt also failed, mainly due to budget problems (don't worry, if you want to see a replica of this statue, you are welcome to visitLuxembourg Gardens).
The left was unable to prevent the construction of the church, but it succeeded nonetheless. However, it succeeded, at the very least, in putting a "finger in the eye" of the church members, even if it was something symbolic.
First, note the name of the street where the Basilica of Sacré-Cère is located. It is named after the Chevalier de La Barre (François-Jean Lefebvre de La Barre 1745-1766), who was executed for not removing his hat in front of a religious procession and became a secular hero, following Voltaire's fight against his conviction.
And secondly, at the beginning of the 21st century, the socialist leader of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, decided to name the square at the bottom of Montmartre after Louise Michel (1830-1905), an anti-clerical anarchist who was one of the leaders of the Paris Commune.
And yes, even today quite a few Parisians hate the church and see it as a kind of grotesque cream cake that defiles the Paris skyline. Call me kitschy, but I really disagree with the Parisians on this issue (I do agree with you on the need to erase the Montparnasse Tower andCenter Pompidou, but that's another story).
There is something beautiful about this white stone building with its many spires, overlooking Paris. If you go inside, you will not be disappointed either. I really like the golden fresco inside one of the church's spires and the blue mosaic, depicting the triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
And what about you? Do you love the cold brew or hate it? I would love to read your opinion in the comments at the end of the article.
Tips for Photography at the Church of Skara Ker
The high location on Montmartre hill means that the Sacré-Cer offers creative angles and different perspectives for photographers, selfie enthusiasts, and those who want to share quality photos on social media. Here are some tips to help you create the best photos when visiting the Sacré-Cer.
Try to catch the cold snap during golden hour.
- Morning light: Arrive early in the morning to catch the soft sunrise light illuminating the basilica. The light at this time lends a warmer hue to the white stones of the Sacré-Cœur.
- Sunset photos: The basilica also looks stunning at sunset, when the sky behind it can turn into a palette of pinks, purples, and oranges. This is also a great time to take silhouette photos against the sky.
Photography angles
- Photo from below: Try to capture the grandeur of the Sakkara by taking photos from the bottom of the hill, looking up. This angle emphasizes the dominance of the structure.
- Streets of Montmartre: Wander around Montmartre and try to capture the basilica from the charming narrow streets. These compositions can include local architecture and the daily life of Parisians, adding context to your photos.
- Gardens and vineyards: Take advantage of the gardens around the basilica for a natural setting for your photos. The nearby Montmartre vineyard can also offer a unique angle with the Sacré-Cœur in the background.
Tips for great selfies and group photos
- Use a selfie stick: It's true that it's sometimes considered an awkward item, but a selfie stick can be used to get both the basilica and the group being photographed into the frame, especially when taking photos of the front or interior.
- Find a good background: The steps leading to the Sacré-Cœur offer a fantastic vantage point for selfies with the basilica or the Paris skyline in the background.
- Ask for help: Don't hesitate to ask someone to take your photo. Often, a fresh perspective can make for a great photo.
More photography tips
- Arrived early or late to church: To avoid the crowds and get “clean” photos, visit early in the morning or later in the evening.
- patience: Wait for moments when people are out of your frame or use crowds creatively to demonstrate the church's popularity with tourists.
Want to know more places in Montmartre?
The Sacré-Cœur may be the most famous attraction in Montmartre, but it's far from the only one. It's one of the most charming and interesting neighborhoods in Paris, thanks to its political and artistic history, and no visit to Paris is complete without a visit to it.
To help you navigate the Montmartre district, I have created for you the Montmartre page There you will find historical information about the district, hiking trails, information about attractions, and more, and more. In short, everything you need to plan your trip there.
Excellent article, thank you. There is another way to get to the church and the place of worship. Bus number 40 arrives right at the entrance to the church. The bus makes a circuit of the streets adjacent to the church with many stops, an excellent line. The starting station of the line is close to Galeries Lafayette.
A very interesting article, well-written and detailed.
Like all your articles.
Thanks Zvi.
Thank you very much 🙂
An enriching article!
Thank you very much 🙂
Thank you! It's fun to walk with you in the morning.
Thank you.