Basilique Du Sacre Coeur

The ‘Basilique du Sacre Coeur’ is positions at the top of butte Montmartre. To get here one can climb the endless steps, or take a cable car. The basilica and the beauty of the landscape draw thousands of visitor’s everyday. To find an “original” souvenir, one can go to the neighbor Place du Tertre where one will find many caricature artists.

Basilica in Paris, devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a famous landmark atop the Monometer, from which it tower above the city. Built during 1875 -1914 by subscriptions as a votive offering after the Franco-Prussian War, it was consecrated in 1919 after World War I and has a patriotic as well as religious symbolic significance. Designed by the architect Paul Abadie, the basilica is a huge and harmonious edifice in the Byzantine-Romanesque style. Behind its tall dome rises a bell tower 276 ft high.

The Sacré-Coeur Catholic basilica was constructed at the end of the 19th century at the top of the Montmartre hill in Paris. Its famous white pastry like architecture is dominating the city. The Sacré-Coeur is a holy place and a flagship of Catholic devotion to the Holy Virgin in Paris. It pull towards itself many pilgrims from all over the world and has a large network of affiliated churches .The Sacré-Coeur has been represented many times by the Montmartre painters near-by on Place du Tertre.

The principal frontage, with the broad bronze doors, is framed equestrian statues of Louis Saint and Jeanne d' Arc. She opens on a square which dominates the town of Paris and makes it feasible to welcome a splendid sight on the capital.Inside, the apse is adorned with an immense mosaic of 475 m signed of Luc-Olivier Merson, representing the Trinity and the devotion of France to the Sacred Heart.Many statues also decorate the vaults. The basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the Parisian monuments most famous and most visited.

It was decided to establish in front of the Basilica, a public garden inclined repurchasing the 50 meters of difference in level between the boulevard and the hillock and to largely open this public garden on the boulevard by cutting down the block of houses which masks the aspect of it. The study of the venture was entrusted to Jean Formigé, who with the assistance of Bévière, draws up a great project of inclined garden, leading by slopes and embranchments simply laid out, initially with a large water tower, then with the esplanade which precedes the Basilica.

The basilica of the Sacred Heart was born from the wish of the catholic church of expier the “revolutionary crimes” of the insurrectionary movement of the Commune and to wash the defeat of France at the time of the war of 1870 against Prussia.

In rise, Abadie took as a starting point the church of style romano-Byzantine of Saint-Face-of-Périgueux, which it itself restored. The Sacred Heart, entirely built out of white stone, comprises four domes encircling a vast cupola which culminates to 94 Mr. a bell-tower; high of 94 m contains a large bell melted in 1895.

But, as one walks a few meters away from the core tourist area, one discovers very quiet and charming spots, quite unexpected in such a large city as Paris.

By Anil Gupta

Paris Kid's Zone Guide

Paris can be a fun city for kids or teenagers who are history lovers. They will love visiting Versailles, Les Invalides military museum where galore, cannons, mortars, armor, swords, daggers, souvenirs from Napoleon’s time, including his hat and sword are exposed, and even the Egyptian section of the Louvre, where children flock to see mummified cats. Science lovers can’t miss the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at La Villette which as so many special events and exhibitions for kids. They will also be thrilled by the Palais de la découverte’s planetarium. Another enthralling museum, particularly for teens, is the Pasteur Museum.Intimately set in his former home, the museum boasts impressive display of Pasteur’s most famous experiments. If they like animals take the kids to the Jardin des Plantes’ Natural history national museum the permanent exhibitions are amazing and there are great temporary exhibitions too. The Centre Pompidou has a children’s atelier on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And of course, kids will love getting on top of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. An Unusual place to visit is the Sewers museum where a part of Victor Hugo’s Misérables took place. Guided tours are organized in foreign languages only in summer.

As far as open air activities are concerned, the Bateau-mouche tour on the Seine is great fun for kids. Also check out the Bois de Boulogne, a huge park at the West border of Paris also called the “main lung” of Paris. The Jardin d’Acclimatation, at the northern edge of the park, is for children, with a zoo, an amusement park, and a narrow-gauge railway.

Kids will never be starved for entertainment in Paris. There is the magnificent Disneyland Paris, spread across 1,500 acres, and it is sure to win any red-blooded child’s heart. Both kids and adults will also immensely enjoy a tour along the Seine River. A great one for sight seeing, this tour is unique in a lot of ways. For one, during the tour the child would get to see the entire overview of the beautiful city of Paris. Sure to kindle nostalgia in adults and unbounded excitement in kids. A visit to Notre Dame, should not be ruled out either, if not for anything else but for its breath-taking size and beauty.

On the Right bank one could take a stroll through the Jardin de Tuileries while savouring heaps of ice-creams or ride on a donkey back or even attend marionette shows depending on the little prince or princesses’ mood. On the Left Bank, one can go to Jardin du Luxembourg to enjoy the same kind of fun. If Puppets are fun for any child, then catch a puppet show anywhere in Paris as they are a great tradition in the city. Don’t let any child miss the wax museum at Musée Grevin, which is known for being the number one waxworks’ museum in Paris.

And yes, has one come to the fashion capital of the world and the child is still attired in those normal clothes? There are many fashion shops specializing in children’s clothes and also a lot of fashion houses have separate outlets for kids. In fact, Paris holds so much enjoyment for the tiny tots, that for once tourist will be glad to have taken the children along for the holiday.

By Anil Gupta

What to see first in Paris?

Paris is considered to be the romantic capital of the world and a trendsetter in fashion, culture, food and art. Sited on the river Seine, the City of Lights combines the old with the new. History, culture and innovation come together in a collage of landmarks, museums and pieces of history. The city of love has more than 2,400 years of tradition, history and secrets yet to be discovered. Here are just a few of the most noteworthy attractions for the traveler:


The Eiffel Tower is an emblem of the city of Paris and France in general. Throughout time it has inspired many generations of artists worldwide. It offers the best view over Paris as well as an architectural delight.



Chateau de Versailles former residence of King Louis XIV “le roy soleil” has been the scene of numerous historical events like the signing of the famous peace treaty that ended the First World War in 1919.



The Paris Catacombs previously used to store remains of the inhabitants that did not find a place in the Paris cemetery form a walkway many kilometers long. A maze of dark long tunnels that still hold the bones of millions of Parisians.


Sacre Coeur Cathedral watches over the city from it highest position. Some of the best views of Paris can be taken from its dome. Looming over Montmarte, the Cathedral draws the attention of millions of tourists and many artists with spectacular sunset sights.



Notre Dame Cathedral inspired many works of art like Victor Hugo's “Hunchback of Notre Dame” that made it the most famous in French gothic art.



Arc de Triomphe guards the eternal flame and tomb of the Unknown Soldier and is engraved with names of generals and major victories in the revolutionary period. From the to visitors have an excellent view over landmarks like Champs Elysees, Louvre Palace, or Grande Arche de la Défense.



The Louvre holds some of the most impressive collections of art, following a timeline of developing culture throughout history.