Basilica of the Sacré Coeur Poster

The basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre (Montmartre butte), the highest point in the city. The original idea of constructing a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart developed in France after the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Architect Paul Abadie designed the basilica after winning a competition over 77 other architects, but he died not long after the foundation had been laid, in (1884), and other architects continued with the work. The overall style of the structure shows heavy Romano-Byzantine influence. Many design elements of the basilica are based on nationalistic themes: the portico, with its three arches, is adored by two equestrian statues of French national saints Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX, both executed in bronze by Lefebvre; and the nineteen-ton Savoyarde bell (one of the world's heaviest), cast in 1895 in Annecy, alludes to the annexation of Savoy in 1860. Construction costs (amounting to some 40 million French francs) were originally funded by a national subscription in 1873, but the state ultimately assumed responsibility for funding. Construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914, although consecration of the basilica was delayed until after the First World War. Sacré-Cœur is built of travertine stone quarried in Château-Landon (Seine-et-Marne), France. This stone constantly exudes calcite, which ensures that the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution. A mosaic in the apse, entitled Christ in Majesty, is among the world's largest. The basilica complex includes a garden for meditation, with a fountain. The top of the dome is open to tourists and affords a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Paris, which is mostly to the south of the basilica.