Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre

In 1870, following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War and the capture of Emperor Napoleon III, the Bishop of Nantes, Felix Fournier, proposed the idea of constructing a new Parisian church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fournier had a reputation as an active builder and had recently completed the restoration of Nantes Cathedral before his death in 1877. He believed that the country's moral decline since the French Revolution was the reason for the defeat of France in the war, which he considered a divine punishment.

In January 1871, philanthropist Alexandre Legentil, a follower of Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, joined Bishop Fournier in promoting the idea of the new church. Legentil believed that the defeat of France and the imprisonment of the Pope in Italy by Italian nationalists were just punishments for the country's sins. He wrote that the construction of a sanctuary dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paris would be a way to make amends for those sins and obtain the mercy of Jesus Christ, as well as aid in the release of the Pope and the reversal of France's misfortunes.

Thanks to Legentil's influence, the fundraising campaign for the construction of the new church was successful and entirely based on private contributions. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, also known as Sacré-Cœur, was built on Montmartre hill and consecrated in 1919 after a 40-year construction period. The church is a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of French Catholicism.

The selection of Montmartre as the location for the new basilica was based on both practical and symbolic considerations. Its elevation and prominent position made it visible from various parts of the city, while its association with early Christianity and the Society of Jesus added to its significance.

The selection of Montmartre as the location for the new basilica was influenced by several factors. Firstly, its elevated position and visibility from various parts of the city made it a prime choice. Additionally, the area comprised both public and private land, and the French parliament declared that building the basilica was in the national interest, thus aiding in securing the site.

The decision to build the basilica was made official in July 1873, after approval by the National Assembly, with the aim of expiating the country's sins. Montmartre, or the "Hill of the Martyrs," was chosen not only for its physical attributes but also for its association with the early Christian church. According to tradition, it was the place where Saint Denis of Paris, the patron saint of Paris, was beheaded by the Romans. His tomb became the site of the Basilica of Saint Denis, which served as the traditional resting place for the kings of France.

Furthermore, Montmartre was also significant as the birthplace of the Society of Jesus, one of the most influential religious orders in the history of the Catholic Church. Ignatius of Loyola and a few of his followers made their vows in Saint-Pierre de Montmartre in 1534, one of the oldest churches in Paris. Despite the destruction of the Montmartre Abbey to which it belonged during the French Revolution, the church managed to survive.

The Parisian church Sacre-Coeur has faced criticism from leftist journalists and politicians since the late 19th century, with many connecting the church to the destruction of the Paris Commune. Despite being proposed before the Commune took place, critics have accused the church of symbolizing "obscurantism, bad taste and reactionism." In 1976, a bomb exploded inside the church, and in 2004, the socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin renamed the square in front of the church in honor of a prominent anarchist who participated in the Paris Commune.

Recently, leftist members of the French parliament blocked a measure to declare the church a national historic monument, postponing it until 2022 to avoid celebrating the church's history in the same year as the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. However, on December 8, 2022, the National Commission of Patrimony and Architecture unanimously voted to name the church a national historic monument. This decision was criticized by the leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who viewed it as "an apology" for the Paris Commune's violent end.

The competition to design the basilica attracted seventy-seven proposals, with architect Paul Abadie ultimately selected to lead the project. However, the early construction was delayed and complicated by unstable foundations, requiring the excavation and filling of eighty-three wells to serve as subterranean pillars. Despite construction costs estimated at 7 million francs, drawn entirely from private donors, no above-ground structure was visible until a provisional chapel was consecrated in 1876. Pilgrimage quickly brought in additional funding.

After Abadie's death in 1884, five other architects made extensive modifications to the design. Opponents of the basilica were relentless in their effort to hinder its progress. In 1882, the left-wing coalition led by Georges Clemenceau won the parliamentary election and proposed halting the work, but the government had to allow the construction to proceed to avoid enormous liabilities.

The interior of the basilica was completed in 1891 and opened for public worship, but Clemenceau made another attempt to block its completion in 1897, which was overwhelmingly defeated. The dome was completed in 1899, and the bell tower finished in 1912. The basilica was completed in 1914 and formally dedicated in 1919 after World War I.

The north-facing front of Sacré-Cœur features the campanile, also known as the bell tower, which houses the Savoyarde bell. This impressive bell, weighing nineteen tons, was cast in Annecy in 1895 and is considered one of the heaviest bells in the world. The bell serves as a tribute to Savoy's annexation to France in 1860.

Meanwhile, the south facade's porch serves as the main entrance and is richly adorned with religious and French national themes. Crowning the porch is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ. The arches of the facade are also embellished with two bronze equestrian statues of French national saints, Joan of Arc (1927) and King Saint Louis IX, both created by Hippolyte Lefèbvre.

Sacré-Cœur's white stone is composed of Chateau-Landon, a type of travertine limestone that was quarried in Souppes-sur-Loing, France. This specific variety of stone is notable for its extreme hardness, fine grain, and ability to release calcite when it comes into contact with rainwater, resulting in its exceptional whiteness.

The high dome in the nave of the church symbolizes the celestial world, while the rectangular space below represents the terrestrial world. These two worlds are connected by massive columns, signifying the passage between them. This architectural design is meant to convey a spiritual message.

The interior plan of the church follows a Greek cross layout, with the altar located at the center, inspired by Byzantine church architecture. Traditional Latin elements such as the choir and disambulatory were later added around the altar. The light inside the church is dim due to the height of the windows above the altar, adding to the mystical atmosphere. Byzantine features are also present in the interior design, including the tile floor patterns and glasswork.

"Christ in Majesty" mosaic

The largest artwork in the church is a mosaic called "The Triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus," created by Luc-Olivier Merson, H. M. Magne, and R. Martin and dedicated in 1923. Comprising 25,000 enamelled and gilded ceramic pieces, it covers 475 square meters and depicts Christ with his mother and the Archangel Michael, surrounded by popes, cardinals, and people from five continents paying homage to the Sacred Heart. The basilica also features a meditation garden with a fountain and a panoramic view of Paris from the top of the dome, but photography and videography are prohibited inside.

Chapels

The basilica's interior features an array of chapels, predominantly donated by religious orders or professional groups. These chapels are adorned with sculptures, relief sculptures, and tapestries that frequently depict the donors' professions. As an illustration, the Chapel of the Order of Notre Dame of the Sea showcases tapestries portraying Christ's walk on water and the miraculous fish catch.

Crypt

Unlike traditional crypts, which are typically located underground, the crypt beneath Sacré-Coeur boasts stained glass windows, made possible by a four-meter-wide trench called a "saut-de-loup" that encircles it. This trench allows natural light to enter the crypt through windows and oculi in the wall. The central feature of the crypt is the Pieta chapel, which houses a monumental statue of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross on the altar. This stunning statue, created by Jules Coutain in 1895, is the focal point of the chapel. Additionally, the crypt includes a series of seven chapels on both the east and west sides, which correspond to the chapels located above. Notably, the crypt also serves as the final resting place for important figures involved in the creation of the basilica, such as Cardinals Guibert and Richard.

Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, the renowned 19th-century Parisian organ builder, constructed a magnificent pipe organ in the basilica. The instrument comprises four 61-note manuals, a 32-note pedalboard, 109 ranks, and 78 speaking stops, including three expressive divisions. This was unusual for the time, as larger organs typically had only one expressive division. Originally built in 1898 for Baron Albert de L'Espée's chateau in Biarritz, the organ was the last one Cavaillé-Coll built. It underwent several restorations, including the most recent one in 1985, and has been recognized as a national landmark since 1981, as has the basilica itself.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre houses a collection of bells, including four smaller ones named Félicité, Louise, Nicole, and Elisabeth. Originally used in the church of Saint-Roch, they were relocated to the basilica in 1969. The belfry also contains a massive bourdon named "The Savoyarde," which is the largest bell in France. Cast in 1891 by the Paccard foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, it weighs 18,835 kg and measures 3.03 m in diameter and 9.60 m in outer circumference, with a base thickness of 22 cm and a leaf of 850 kg. The Savoyarde is only rung on major religious holidays such as Easter, Pentecost, Ascension, Christmas, Assumption, and All Saints, and can be heard from 10 km away. It was offered by the four dioceses of Savoy and transported to the basilica on October 16, 1895, pulled by a team of 28 horses. However, in the late 1990s, a crack was detected in the bell.

The Basilica is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a popular devotion inspired by the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial. French bishops requested Pope Pius IX to establish the feast of the Sacred Heart in 1856, and the basilica was consecrated on October 16, 1919.

Even before the construction was finished, the Blessed Sacrament (the consecrated body of Christ) has been displayed in a monstrance above the high altar since 1885. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been ongoing in the basilica since then.

Visitors are requested to dress appropriately and maintain silence as much as possible to respect the pilgrims who have come from around the world to pray in this sacred place, particularly since the Blessed Sacrament is exhibited. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the basilica.

To reach the basilica, visitors can take either the bus or metro line 2, getting off at Anvers station. The Sacré-Cœur is open daily from 06:00 to 22:30, while the dome is accessible from 09:00 to 19:00 during the summer season and until 18:00 in the winter months.