The Sacred Heart
In 1871, Alexandre Legentil and Hubert Rohault de Fleury expressed a wish to build a sanctuary dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in recognition of divine protection and in response to the tumultuous events of the time.
The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
France suffered a defeat at the hands of Prussia, resulting in the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. This created tensions and divisions within French society.
The Paris Commune (1871)
After the war, the Paris Commune broke out, a period of uprising and political conflict.
This wish was accepted by the Catholic Church and led to the construction of the basilica.
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was designed in part to ease these tensions and symbolize reconciliation.
Thus, the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur of Montmartre is both a spiritual tribute and a symbol of national unity, embodying faith, reconciliation and divine protection.
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica of Montmartre, also known as the National Vow, was built between 1875 and 1914 by the architect Paul Abadie.
The choice of architect Paul Abadie gave birth to a remarkable building, characterized by its eclectic style, mixing Romanesque and Byzantine influences.
The basilica has a large circular dome surrounded by four small octagonal domes topped with lanterns and flanked by turrets.
Its location at an altitude of 130 meters near one of the highest points in Paris and its dome which rises to 83 meters make it visible from very far away.
Before the construction of the Sacré-Cœur basilica in Montmartre, the site was occupied by a monastery.
In the 9th century, the existing building had deteriorated to become a ruin.
Until the French Revolution, the monastery was occupied by Benedictine sisters devoted to the Virgin Mary.
Its location on the Montmartre hill also offers a panoramic view of Paris, symbolizing spiritual elevation and reconciliation.
With nearly 11 million pilgrims and visitors per year, it is the second most visited Parisian religious monument after Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.