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Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
蒙马特与圣心堂 · Montmartre, Paris, France
The Montmartre hill is one of the highest districts in Paris, where cobbled lanes, a vineyard and painters' stalls intertwine above a panorama of the city; the white Sacré-Cœur on its summit is the most popular sight in Paris after the Eiffel Tower.
Know before you go
- Disturbing worship while Mass is in progress
- making noise at night in the residential streets
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The Name Montmartre
There are two theories about the origin of the name Montmartre: one derives it from the Latin Mons Martis (Mount of Mars, god of war), the other from Mons Martyrum (Mount of the Martyrs). Scholars have reached no consensus, so both stand side by side and neither should be taken as settled.
Source: Wikipedia: Montmartre
Legend
Saint Denis Carrying His Head
Legend has it that Saint Denis, patron saint of Paris, was beheaded on the summit of Montmartre, then picked up his own head and carried it to a spring before descending the north slope, where he finally died. The story comes from a 9th-century saint's life and is legend, not history; by tradition the hill where Sacré-Cœur stands is linked with his martyrdom.
History
A Contested Basilica
The summit on which Sacré-Cœur stands overlooks the place where the Paris Commune uprising began. Parts of the French left have long criticized the basilica as a symbol of the Communards' repression, and opinions remain divided.
Source: Wikipedia: Sacré-Cœur, Paris
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Montmartre hill lies in Paris's 18th arrondissement in the north of the city, about 130 meters high, with Sacré-Cœur standing on its summit. The basilica is in the Romano-Byzantine revival style; its central dome is 83 meters high, and its northern bell tower holds the "Savoyarde" bell of about 19 tonnes. Its white travertine exudes calcite in the rain, which makes it grow ever whiter. Montmartre was a gathering place for artists of the Belle Époque (1872–1914): Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Modigliani, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Utrillo and others lived or worked here. In 1904–1909 Picasso and others lived at the Bateau-Lavoir, where Les Demoiselles d'Avignon was painted. The Moulin Rouge was founded in 1889 on the Boulevard de Clichy, and the Chat Noir cabaret in 1881. Sacré-Cœur was designed by the architect Paul Abadie, chosen from 77 proposals; its foundation stone was laid in 1875, it was completed in 1914 and consecrated in 1919, and it was listed as a French historic monument in 2022. To stabilize the ground, 83 wells 30 meters deep were dug and filled with stone and concrete to serve as underground pillars. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has continued here without interruption since 1885.
Local customs
Take the Montmartre funicular up the hill to avoid the 222 steps of Rue Foyatier, or climb the steps on foot. Watch painters at work on the Place du Tertre, walk to the small vineyard on Rue Saint-Vincent, enter Sacré-Cœur to see the mosaic dome interior, then climb the dome for a view over Paris. In the evening, watch the city lights come on from the edge of the hill.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Disturbing worship while Mass is in progress
- making noise at night in the residential streets
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep quiet and dress appropriately inside Sacré-Cœur
- ask permission before photographing a painter or having your portrait painted on the Place du Tertre
- look after your belongings
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Sacré-Cœur and the hill attract visitors all year round
- early morning and evening are relatively quiet. Climbing the dome requires a separate ticket and a stair climb, so if your stamina is limited you may visit the church interior only. The cobbled streets have many slopes, so flat shoes are recommended. Opening and ticketing information follows official sources. You can visit in any season: spring and autumn have pleasant weather for lingering in the outdoor squares, summer brings the most visitors, and in winter the hill has its own atmosphere in thin mist
- clear days are best for the view from the top.
- Paris Metro lines 2, 4, 12 and 13 all reach the area around Montmartre
- from there, walk up the hill or take the Montmartre funicular to the top. On the hill itself, walking is the main way to get around.
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